Freshman Tommy Mace pitched five scoreless innings in Saturday's alumni scrimmage. (Photo: Courtney Mims)
Bell and Mace shine in Alumni Scrimmage
Saturday, February 10, 2018 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla.--The 2018 Alumni Scrimmage was a huge success, with over 60 Florida baseball alumni and over a thousand fans on hand at McKethan Stadium.
The current Gators' squad held on for a 5-4 win on Saturday afternoon despite a late rally by the alumni team.
Several young Florida players stood out in the scrimmage. Sophomore Keenan Bell, expected to start the season at first base, went 3-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Freshman Tommy Mace started and pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and retiring the final 10 batters he faced.
Junior Nelson Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Blake Reese went 1-for-3 with a RBI double.
A total of 16 former UF players participated in the scrimmage. Avery Barnes (2006-09) and Jonathan Pigott (2007-10) were the only players who managed to get hits -- both singles -- against Mace through the first five innings. In the later innings, Kevin Chapman (2007-10) and Aaron Rhodes (2013-15) each had doubles and Keenan Kish legged out an infield single.
Chapman also pitched an inning on the mound without allowing a hit. Tony Davis (2007-09), Hudson Randall (2010-12), Paco Rodrizuez (2010-12) and Danny Young (2013-15) each threw an inning in relief.
Brady Singer (4+ IP, 6 H, 3 R, 5 K) and Michael Byrne (2 IP, 0 R, 1 K) also pitched in the game.
The Gators open the 2018 season on Feb. 16 against Siena at McKethan Stadium. Season tickets and Flex Passes for the 2018 Gator Baseball season are on sale now and can be purchased online through FloridaGators.com or by calling the Gator Ticket Office at 1-800-34-GATOR from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For all of the latest information on Florida baseball, log on to FloridaGators.com or follow the team's Twitter account @GatorsBB.
The current Gators' squad held on for a 5-4 win on Saturday afternoon despite a late rally by the alumni team.
Several young Florida players stood out in the scrimmage. Sophomore Keenan Bell, expected to start the season at first base, went 3-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Freshman Tommy Mace started and pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits and retiring the final 10 batters he faced.
Junior Nelson Maldonado went 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. Blake Reese went 1-for-3 with a RBI double.
A total of 16 former UF players participated in the scrimmage. Avery Barnes (2006-09) and Jonathan Pigott (2007-10) were the only players who managed to get hits -- both singles -- against Mace through the first five innings. In the later innings, Kevin Chapman (2007-10) and Aaron Rhodes (2013-15) each had doubles and Keenan Kish legged out an infield single.
Chapman also pitched an inning on the mound without allowing a hit. Tony Davis (2007-09), Hudson Randall (2010-12), Paco Rodrizuez (2010-12) and Danny Young (2013-15) each threw an inning in relief.
Brady Singer (4+ IP, 6 H, 3 R, 5 K) and Michael Byrne (2 IP, 0 R, 1 K) also pitched in the game.
The Gators open the 2018 season on Feb. 16 against Siena at McKethan Stadium. Season tickets and Flex Passes for the 2018 Gator Baseball season are on sale now and can be purchased online through FloridaGators.com or by calling the Gator Ticket Office at 1-800-34-GATOR from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For all of the latest information on Florida baseball, log on to FloridaGators.com or follow the team's Twitter account @GatorsBB.
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