Gators hit their way to a win in SEC-opening game

Posted Mar 19, 2010 by Aaron Oberlin

Updated Mar 20, 2010 at 09:36 PM

Preston Tucker and Austin Maddox slugged the Gators baseball team to a 7-2 victory during the opening game of Southeastern Conference play March 19.

Florida’s No. 3 and 4 hitters proved to be too much for Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs (11-7) put up a fight for most of the game, heading into the sixth inning down 2-1. But Tucker and Maddox sparked a five-run inning with back-to-back home runs off pitcher Kendall Graveman.

“[Graveman] was in control most of the game. I thought he pitched real well. Up until that point, I thought he did a great job,” said UF coach Kevin O’ Sullivan.

Tucker and Maddox both slammed hanging curve balls for home runs. They were able to jump on Graveman’s pitches by studying his tendencies.

“That’s one thing we’ve been stressing this season. Pay attention to how [pitchers] approach first, second and third hitters, look for some off-speed stuff,” said O’ Sullivan.

Graveman was pulled after walking the next batter, Nolan Fontana.

The next two hitters – Kamm Washington and Bryson Smith – also drew walks, and Tyler Thompson followed with a single up the middle for two RBI. Matt van Dekker then tallied a RBI with a sacrifice fly that drove in Smith.

The inning ended 7-1, and the Bulldogs would never recover.

Tucker’s and Maddox’s night started in the first inning, when they gave the Gators (14-3) an early cushion.

Facing a full count, Tucker singled to right field, advancing Josh Adams to second base. Maddox followed with a double to right centerfield. He drove in both runners for a 2-0 lead.

Being up two runs at the beginning of the game, O’ Sullivan credited sophomore pitcher Alex Panteliodis for keeping the lead into the fruitful sixth inning.

“He was around the plate, and getting two in the first gave him a lot of confidence,” said O’ Sullivan.

“I have got to give it to my defense, they helped me out a lot by taking care of a lot of deep fly balls and hard hit ground balls,” Panteliodis said. “I just have to give credit to my teammates tonight.”

Maddox finished the night 2 for 4 with 1 run and 3 RBI, Tucker 2 for 4 with 2 runs and a RBI.

The game against MSU was the first of a three-game series, which will end March 21.