Freshman Kendrick Calilao connects for a second-inning homer in Saturday's victory over Army. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
Gators Notebook: Calilao Rediscovers Stroke, Leftwich's Surge, More Tidbits
Saturday, June 1, 2019 | Baseball, Scott Carter
LUBBOCK, Texas – The definition of a quality start is pretty straightforward. A starting pitcher who throws at least six innings and allows three or less earned runs is credited with one.
Gators sophomore right-hander Jack Leftwich went more than two months with the word "no" under QS in his stat line. His streak ended in splendid fashion on May 17 when Leftwich pitched the best game of his college career, tossing a two-hit shutout at Missouri to help Florida earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
In Florida's 13-5 victory over Army on Saturday, Leftwich earned another "yes" under QS.
With the Gators' season on the line, Leftwich took the mound at Rip Griffin Park determined to give the Gators some much-needed innings following Tommy Mace's brief outing in Friday night's loss to Dallas Baptist.
"Just try to go deep and attack and get early contact,'' Leftwich said of the game plan. "I didn't really think anything of it because it was an elimination game. I threw in three of them last year and Missouri was kind of like an elimination game, too, so it's just the same mindset of attacking every hitter."
Leftwich attacked the Black Knights from the start, retiring the first 16 batters he faced. His start was reminiscent of his outing at Missouri when Leftwich retired the first 14 batters.
The only damage Army was able to do against Leftwich was a solo homer by Josh White in the sixth inning. However, by that time the Gators led 11-0 and Leftwich was in total command.
In the dugout, Gators head coach Kevin O'Sullivan was relieved not to have to go to the bullpen early like Friday when Mace was able to record only four outs.
"Jack gave us the start we needed,'' O'Sullivan said. "We obviously needed for Jack to go deep into the ball game, which he did. It saved our pen."
Leftwich allowed only one hit over seven innings and struck out seven with one walk. He gave way to reliever Kirby McMullen in the eighth after 111 pitches, 79 of them strikes.
A sophomore who was at his best in the postseason a year ago – he had a 2.53 ERA in 21 1/3 innings in the SEC and NCAA tournaments as a freshman – Leftwich set the tone in the first inning Saturday when he struck out two of the first three batters he faced.
Leftwich's recent surge has come after a blister on his pitching hand finally healed.
"I think it has to do with probably a combination of things,'' O'Sullivan said. "He's healthy, obviously the blister was something that we just couldn't control and it lingered for a long time. So when you take that much time off, obviously you get out of your rhythm, I think he's just starting to find his rhythm now. It's good to have him back to form, but it's just taken awhile."
CALILAO CONNECTS
Gators first baseman Kendrick Calilao entered Saturday's game in a 4-for-40 slump over the past 12 games. Over that span, Calilao had no home runs and four RBI and saw his average drop to .280 on the season.
Calilao rediscovered his stroke against the Black Knights, going 3-for-3 with five RBI to lead Florida's 14-hit attack. Calilao's biggest hit came in the second inning when he drilled a pitch from Army starter Tyler Giovinco over the left-field wall for a two-run homer, giving the Gators an early lead they never relinquished. It was Calilao's first home run since April 2 against Florida A&M.
Calilao didn't stop there, adding an RBI single in the third and RBI sacrifice flies in the fourth and fifth. Playing in his first NCAA Tournament, Calilao showed up at the ballpark with a sense of urgency considering what was at stake.
"If we lost the game then we would be done for the season, so our goal today was to come out on fire,'' he said.
POTENTIAL LONG DAY
Florida's victory Saturday sets up a possible doubleheader on Sunday. The Gators face Dallas Baptist, which lost 3-2 to host Texas Tech, in a rematch of Friday night's game at 3 p.m. ET. If they win, they will face the Red Raiders at 9 p.m. ET.
UF must win both to have a chance to play in the Lubbock Regional championship game on Monday. O'Sullivan isn't concerned about the wear and tear on the players.
"They're resilient, they're young,'' he said. "At this time of the year it's either play well or your season's over. It's probably more of a rehydration thing more than being tired at this point, and that was something that was reiterated at the end of the game."
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We came into the regional -- I mean, this team's capable of doing one of two things: we could win a regional or be out in two. That's the way we have been pretty much the whole year. We have been inconsistent. But there have been bright spots for them, a lot of freshmen arms, but it's just the ability to be consistent. That's been our issue. But at this point of the year they're all going to have to contribute at some point because we put ourselves in a tough position having to win four games in a row." – O'Sullivan on challenge ahead
EXTRA BASES
Gators OF Nelson Maldonado has reached base safely in 8 of 9 plate appearances in the Lubbock Regional. He is 5-for-6 with three walks and now leads the team with a .347 average … Freshman RHP Nick Pogue will start Sunday's game against DBU (check out FloridaGators.com Sunday for more on Pogue); Patriots coach Dan Heefner did not name a starter following Saturday's loss to Texas Tech. … Calilao's five RBI Saturday give him 49 on the season, passing shortstop Brady McConnell (48) for the team lead.
Gators sophomore right-hander Jack Leftwich went more than two months with the word "no" under QS in his stat line. His streak ended in splendid fashion on May 17 when Leftwich pitched the best game of his college career, tossing a two-hit shutout at Missouri to help Florida earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
In Florida's 13-5 victory over Army on Saturday, Leftwich earned another "yes" under QS.
With the Gators' season on the line, Leftwich took the mound at Rip Griffin Park determined to give the Gators some much-needed innings following Tommy Mace's brief outing in Friday night's loss to Dallas Baptist.
"Just try to go deep and attack and get early contact,'' Leftwich said of the game plan. "I didn't really think anything of it because it was an elimination game. I threw in three of them last year and Missouri was kind of like an elimination game, too, so it's just the same mindset of attacking every hitter."
Leftwich attacked the Black Knights from the start, retiring the first 16 batters he faced. His start was reminiscent of his outing at Missouri when Leftwich retired the first 14 batters.
The only damage Army was able to do against Leftwich was a solo homer by Josh White in the sixth inning. However, by that time the Gators led 11-0 and Leftwich was in total command.
In the dugout, Gators head coach Kevin O'Sullivan was relieved not to have to go to the bullpen early like Friday when Mace was able to record only four outs.
"Jack gave us the start we needed,'' O'Sullivan said. "We obviously needed for Jack to go deep into the ball game, which he did. It saved our pen."
Leftwich allowed only one hit over seven innings and struck out seven with one walk. He gave way to reliever Kirby McMullen in the eighth after 111 pitches, 79 of them strikes.
A sophomore who was at his best in the postseason a year ago – he had a 2.53 ERA in 21 1/3 innings in the SEC and NCAA tournaments as a freshman – Leftwich set the tone in the first inning Saturday when he struck out two of the first three batters he faced.
Leftwich's recent surge has come after a blister on his pitching hand finally healed.
"I think it has to do with probably a combination of things,'' O'Sullivan said. "He's healthy, obviously the blister was something that we just couldn't control and it lingered for a long time. So when you take that much time off, obviously you get out of your rhythm, I think he's just starting to find his rhythm now. It's good to have him back to form, but it's just taken awhile."
CALILAO CONNECTS
Gators first baseman Kendrick Calilao entered Saturday's game in a 4-for-40 slump over the past 12 games. Over that span, Calilao had no home runs and four RBI and saw his average drop to .280 on the season.
Calilao rediscovered his stroke against the Black Knights, going 3-for-3 with five RBI to lead Florida's 14-hit attack. Calilao's biggest hit came in the second inning when he drilled a pitch from Army starter Tyler Giovinco over the left-field wall for a two-run homer, giving the Gators an early lead they never relinquished. It was Calilao's first home run since April 2 against Florida A&M.
Calilao didn't stop there, adding an RBI single in the third and RBI sacrifice flies in the fourth and fifth. Playing in his first NCAA Tournament, Calilao showed up at the ballpark with a sense of urgency considering what was at stake.
"If we lost the game then we would be done for the season, so our goal today was to come out on fire,'' he said.
POTENTIAL LONG DAY
Florida's victory Saturday sets up a possible doubleheader on Sunday. The Gators face Dallas Baptist, which lost 3-2 to host Texas Tech, in a rematch of Friday night's game at 3 p.m. ET. If they win, they will face the Red Raiders at 9 p.m. ET.
UF must win both to have a chance to play in the Lubbock Regional championship game on Monday. O'Sullivan isn't concerned about the wear and tear on the players.
"They're resilient, they're young,'' he said. "At this time of the year it's either play well or your season's over. It's probably more of a rehydration thing more than being tired at this point, and that was something that was reiterated at the end of the game."
QUOTE OF NOTE
"We came into the regional -- I mean, this team's capable of doing one of two things: we could win a regional or be out in two. That's the way we have been pretty much the whole year. We have been inconsistent. But there have been bright spots for them, a lot of freshmen arms, but it's just the ability to be consistent. That's been our issue. But at this point of the year they're all going to have to contribute at some point because we put ourselves in a tough position having to win four games in a row." – O'Sullivan on challenge ahead
EXTRA BASES
Gators OF Nelson Maldonado has reached base safely in 8 of 9 plate appearances in the Lubbock Regional. He is 5-for-6 with three walks and now leads the team with a .347 average … Freshman RHP Nick Pogue will start Sunday's game against DBU (check out FloridaGators.com Sunday for more on Pogue); Patriots coach Dan Heefner did not name a starter following Saturday's loss to Texas Tech. … Calilao's five RBI Saturday give him 49 on the season, passing shortstop Brady McConnell (48) for the team lead.
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