Gators coach Kevin O'Sullivan visits the mound during starter Tommy Mace's three-hitter on Friday night at McKethan Stadium. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/UAA Communications)
Mace The Ace Delivered Exactly What Gators Needed
Saturday, March 30, 2019 | Baseball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gators pitcher Tommy Mace suffered a bit of bad luck in his first two SEC starts of the season.
Against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, the sophomore threw well and kept his team within striking distance but departed with runners in scoring position. In both games, the relievers allowed his runners to score, causing his final statistics to not accurately reflect his performances. His earned-run average soared to 3.99, and he took the first two losses of his college career.
"If I'm not winning, then I have to figure out something," Mace said.
He figured out something all right, like not letting the relievers step on the mound.
Mace tossed his first career complete game in the No. 24 Gators' 3-1 series-opening win over Alabama (20-7, 2-5 SEC) on Friday night. He gave up just three hits and struck out seven batters.
Mace threw 119 pitches. Coach Kevin O'Sullivan rarely allows his pitchers to throw more than 100 pitches, so most assumed his night was done when he exited the mound after the eighth inning at 102 pitches. Mace said he knew he had a shot at the complete game when O'Sullivan approached him after the seventh inning and told him he had six more outs to get.
Mace drilled the Crimson Tide's Kolby Robinson in the helmet with a fastball to open the ninth inning. O'Sullivan walked out to the mound, but Mace said he could tell by O'Sullivan's pace that he was stalling to give Jordan Butler and Christian Scott more time to warm up in the bullpen and not taking him out.
"I wasn't going to take him out," O'Sullivan said. "I just didn't want him to feel like he needed to make perfect pitches to finish this thing off. He had been so good for eight innings. The other thing I told him is it's a really tough night to get the ball out of here. The wind was blowing in. Just kind of do what you've been doing for eight innings. Don't change your approach."
O'Sullivan said the decision to extend Mace beyond his usual pitch count was twofold. First, the Gators (18-10, 2-5) desperately need wins to gain momentum and get back into the conference race. Second, top relievers Nolan Crisp and Scott both threw more than 60 pitches in Tuesday's win over Florida State. He didn't want to use them unless he absolutely had to.
After O'Sullivan's mound visit, Mace retired the final three batters to seal the deal. For the first time in SEC play, Florida enters the second game of the series with momentum and a fresh bullpen.
Mace retired the first seven batters before running into trouble with one out in the third inning. Designated hitter T.J. Reeves blooped a single into right field, and third baseman Kobe Morris was hit by a pitch. Center fielder Joe Breaux hit a sharp groundball to UF shortstop Brady McConnell that should've been an easy double play. Second baseman Jacob Young took the flip from McConnell but fired wide of first base, pulling first baseman Kendrick Calilao off the bag and giving the Crimson Tide new life.
Robinson followed with a ground ball up the middle that seemed destined for center field. Instead, McConnell dove for the ball, stopped it and shoveled it to Young at second base. The umpire originally ruled the runner out, but replay showed that he was safe, so the Gators were brought back onto the field and Alabama was awarded the tying run. Mace escaped further damage by getting Morgan McCullough to fly out to right.
"He was incredible," Young said. "Even the one run he gave up, I think it was more on defense. So, I thought he pitched a great game. Worked everything down. I think he was still [throwing] 93 [mph] in the last inning, which is incredible."
The only other Crimson Tide hit came from first baseman Drew Williamson in the fifth inning. Of the Tide's three hits, one of them was a blooper that found some real estate in right field and the other two didn't leave the infield. Mace set down nine in a row prior to hitting Robinson in the ninth.
O'Sullivan said he saw on film that Alabama's hitters are very aggressive early in at-bats, and Mace took advantage by recording some quick outs that kept his pitch count low enough to make a complete game possible. Mace, known more for his fastball, cutter and slider, said he felt that his changeup was sharp and a difference-maker.
Offensively, Mace didn't get much support, but it was enough. The Gators recorded seven hits, and four of them came from Young and McConnell, who were each 2-for-4. They scored all three runs. Senior designated hitter Nelson Maldonado drove in two of the runs, while Calilao added his team-leading 30th RBI of the year.
UF entered the series tied with Kentucky for last in the SEC in fielding percentage, but it didn't commit an error and even shined with the glove on Friday.
Despite beating Florida State for the 10th consecutive time on Tuesday, O'Sullivan wasn't pleased with some of the execution in that game. Batters and runners missed multiple signs, and the infielders didn't position themselves correctly in the ninth inning. While it didn't cost them against the Seminoles, small details like these often separate good teams from great ones.
The Gators were much better in this area against the Crimson Tide, O'Sullivan said, although Young took off for second base in the first inning without receiving the steal sign.
It helps to have an ace that can cover up his teammates' mistakes and keep his team in every game. O'Sullivan moved Mace into the Friday night role about a month ago because he thought he could be that guy.
"I think as a pitcher, everything's on you, even if you just walk somebody or give up a hit or give up two runs, do something better the next outing to try to make your team win," Mace said.
That mentality is why he's Mace the Ace.
Against Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, the sophomore threw well and kept his team within striking distance but departed with runners in scoring position. In both games, the relievers allowed his runners to score, causing his final statistics to not accurately reflect his performances. His earned-run average soared to 3.99, and he took the first two losses of his college career.
"If I'm not winning, then I have to figure out something," Mace said.
He figured out something all right, like not letting the relievers step on the mound.
Mace tossed his first career complete game in the No. 24 Gators' 3-1 series-opening win over Alabama (20-7, 2-5 SEC) on Friday night. He gave up just three hits and struck out seven batters.
Mace threw 119 pitches. Coach Kevin O'Sullivan rarely allows his pitchers to throw more than 100 pitches, so most assumed his night was done when he exited the mound after the eighth inning at 102 pitches. Mace said he knew he had a shot at the complete game when O'Sullivan approached him after the seventh inning and told him he had six more outs to get.
Mace drilled the Crimson Tide's Kolby Robinson in the helmet with a fastball to open the ninth inning. O'Sullivan walked out to the mound, but Mace said he could tell by O'Sullivan's pace that he was stalling to give Jordan Butler and Christian Scott more time to warm up in the bullpen and not taking him out.
"I wasn't going to take him out," O'Sullivan said. "I just didn't want him to feel like he needed to make perfect pitches to finish this thing off. He had been so good for eight innings. The other thing I told him is it's a really tough night to get the ball out of here. The wind was blowing in. Just kind of do what you've been doing for eight innings. Don't change your approach."
O'Sullivan said the decision to extend Mace beyond his usual pitch count was twofold. First, the Gators (18-10, 2-5) desperately need wins to gain momentum and get back into the conference race. Second, top relievers Nolan Crisp and Scott both threw more than 60 pitches in Tuesday's win over Florida State. He didn't want to use them unless he absolutely had to.
After O'Sullivan's mound visit, Mace retired the final three batters to seal the deal. For the first time in SEC play, Florida enters the second game of the series with momentum and a fresh bullpen.
Mace retired the first seven batters before running into trouble with one out in the third inning. Designated hitter T.J. Reeves blooped a single into right field, and third baseman Kobe Morris was hit by a pitch. Center fielder Joe Breaux hit a sharp groundball to UF shortstop Brady McConnell that should've been an easy double play. Second baseman Jacob Young took the flip from McConnell but fired wide of first base, pulling first baseman Kendrick Calilao off the bag and giving the Crimson Tide new life.
Robinson followed with a ground ball up the middle that seemed destined for center field. Instead, McConnell dove for the ball, stopped it and shoveled it to Young at second base. The umpire originally ruled the runner out, but replay showed that he was safe, so the Gators were brought back onto the field and Alabama was awarded the tying run. Mace escaped further damage by getting Morgan McCullough to fly out to right.
"He was incredible," Young said. "Even the one run he gave up, I think it was more on defense. So, I thought he pitched a great game. Worked everything down. I think he was still [throwing] 93 [mph] in the last inning, which is incredible."
The only other Crimson Tide hit came from first baseman Drew Williamson in the fifth inning. Of the Tide's three hits, one of them was a blooper that found some real estate in right field and the other two didn't leave the infield. Mace set down nine in a row prior to hitting Robinson in the ninth.
O'Sullivan said he saw on film that Alabama's hitters are very aggressive early in at-bats, and Mace took advantage by recording some quick outs that kept his pitch count low enough to make a complete game possible. Mace, known more for his fastball, cutter and slider, said he felt that his changeup was sharp and a difference-maker.
Offensively, Mace didn't get much support, but it was enough. The Gators recorded seven hits, and four of them came from Young and McConnell, who were each 2-for-4. They scored all three runs. Senior designated hitter Nelson Maldonado drove in two of the runs, while Calilao added his team-leading 30th RBI of the year.
UF entered the series tied with Kentucky for last in the SEC in fielding percentage, but it didn't commit an error and even shined with the glove on Friday.
Despite beating Florida State for the 10th consecutive time on Tuesday, O'Sullivan wasn't pleased with some of the execution in that game. Batters and runners missed multiple signs, and the infielders didn't position themselves correctly in the ninth inning. While it didn't cost them against the Seminoles, small details like these often separate good teams from great ones.
The Gators were much better in this area against the Crimson Tide, O'Sullivan said, although Young took off for second base in the first inning without receiving the steal sign.
It helps to have an ace that can cover up his teammates' mistakes and keep his team in every game. O'Sullivan moved Mace into the Friday night role about a month ago because he thought he could be that guy.
"I think as a pitcher, everything's on you, even if you just walk somebody or give up a hit or give up two runs, do something better the next outing to try to make your team win," Mace said.
That mentality is why he's Mace the Ace.
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