Pitching against the U.S. Olympic Team, Gators right-hander Brandon Sproat delivered three scoreless, no-hit innings in his Monday start for the Collegiate National Team.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With the USA Collegiate National Team squaring off against the U.S. Olympic Team in the second game of a three-game exhibition series on Monday, Florida right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14233&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=gkKedHDdz4n-sVc6KpHHqLZ9pbGr_46Zwbtn2-sLaWE&s=92KwGSFetIyigS2GjF1jO3JxeSTvvmlt3-tmbl6e_1s&e= > shined while receiving the starting nod on the hill.
Sproat fired three scoreless, no-hit innings to open the game for the CNT, scattering three walks and striking out one batter. Although the CNT ultimately dropped the matchup in the form of a 1-0 pitcher’s duel, Sproat successfully retired former Major League third baseman Todd Frazier as well as one-time Gators catcher Mark Kolozsvary<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_sports_baseball_roster_mark-2Dkolozsvary_9880&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=gkKedHDdz4n-sVc6KpHHqLZ9pbGr_46Zwbtn2-sLaWE&s=RO0S2tlLMHlzaFqkI7AJEa-T2oDbh2gPkw8bt75hDzo&e= >. He exited the game prior to the start of the fourth inning with the matchup knotted in a scoreless tie.
As a result of the standout performance, Sproat effectively lowered his summer ERA to 2.00 across nine innings of work. The right-hander is 1-0 over four starts, having allowed just five hits and five walks against nine strikeouts during his time with the CNT.
Gators left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D14211&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=gkKedHDdz4n-sVc6KpHHqLZ9pbGr_46Zwbtn2-sLaWE&s=dz3sOcp2nB7xxjDUC_O8t1QKgFAzHZnO2-Fs0KG3t8Q&e= > struck out eight across three shutout frames for the CNT in his lone appearance on July 6<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_news_2021_7_7_baseball-2Dbarco-2Dsproat-2Dcombine-2Dfor-2D12-2Dstrikeouts-2Dto-2Dlead-2Dstars-2Dto-2Dvictory.aspx&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=gkKedHDdz4n-sVc6KpHHqLZ9pbGr_46Zwbtn2-sLaWE&s=58Aul4Qid42erOd3ay3JDRrv-q8GWNSLseUteRmcUI4&e= >, meaning the Florida duo of Barco and Sproat have combined for 12 innings of 1.50 ERA ball with 17 strikeouts so far this summer.
There is one game remaining on the summer schedule for Sproat, Barco and Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_coaches.aspx-3Frc-3D1291&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=gkKedHDdz4n-sVc6KpHHqLZ9pbGr_46Zwbtn2-sLaWE&s=Jyx_yC5C5a1fI0KeIKkZjrPiKQJzuW3aKJQRioG24lU&e= >, who has been serving as the pitching coach for the CNT this summer. The third and final game of the series between the CNT and U.S. Olympic Team is scheduled for Tuesday, July 20 at 1 p.m. and will take place at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
Thereafter, Kolozsvary and the U.S. Olympic Team will prepare for departure to Tokyo for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games. The Olympic Baseball schedule runs from July 28 to August 7, with Team USA’s first game coming on Friday, July 30 against Israel.
