Baseball's Keating Named SEC Pitcher Of The Week
Monday, March 31, 2008 | Baseball
University of Florida junior right-hander Patrick Keating (Harrisburg, Ill.) was chosen as the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday after firing his first-ever complete game on Saturday to clinch the series victory over LSU. He became the first Gator hurler to earn the accolade since Darren O'Day collected the honor on Feb. 20, 2006, and the 16th different pitcher from the Orange and Blue to be recognized.
Keating improved his season record to 4-0 and lowered his earned run average to 2.41 with a 95-pitch gem as Florida posted a 7-1 victory. By going the distance, he eclipsed his previous high of six innings that was set at No. 8 Ole Miss on March 22 and also established a career best with six strikeouts. The righty surrendered seven hits and permitted just a fifth-inning run to the Tigers. UF had never defeated the Bayou Bengals in three-straight regular-season series.
The effort represented the Gators' first complete game since right-hander Bryan Augenstein eliminated Alabama from the SEC Tournament with a 3-2 decision on May 24, 2007. Keating's 27 outs consisted of 14 grounders, six strikeouts, six fly balls and his first pickoff.
The No. 13 Gators (20-6/7-2 SEC) return to action on Tuesday by facing No. 2 Florida State (23-3/11-1 ACC) at 7 p.m. at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Junior left-hander Stephen Locke (Tampa, Fla.) (2-0, 4.07) will be on the mound against Seminole senior right-hander Ryan Strauss (2-0, 6.93). UF captured the first of the three contests between the Sunshine State rivals with a 6-1 triumph at McKethan Stadium on March 18.
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