#1 Gators open season with sweep of Bulls(h)
Posted by UFreak in 
The USF Bulls skipped the Big Least vs The Big10/11/12 Baseball Tourney in Clearwater-St Pete this weekend, but probably wish they’d stayed home.
His debut had been anticipated since the moment he turned down millions of dollars to attend the University of Florida.
As the No. 9 overall pick by the San Diego Padres in last year’s Major League Baseball Draft, freshman pitcher Karsten Whitson has earned celebrity status in Gainesville. He was mobbed by kids during the Sunday pregame community anthem and received a thunderous cheer from the stands when he was announced as a starter.
For the 3,852 fans who showed up for Florida’s finale with South Florida, Whitson showed that, for one day at least, he was as good as advertised.
Working a mid-to-upper 90s mph fastball, commanding both a wicked slider and a goofy-looking changeup, and exuding veteran-like confidence, Whitson pitched five scoreless innings in his debut. The right-hander struck out nine, while surrendering just one hit and one walk in Florida’s 5-0 series-sweeping win over the Bulls(h).