Purnell Named Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American
Purnell produced four saves and a 2.86 ERA while leading the Gators with 36 appearances on the mound.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida right-handed pitcher Blake Purnell<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_roster.aspx-3Frp-5Fid-3D15103&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=oI3-aLOhzlhv4IkHzumD1yg4ztBie3WO98LWS3Hz1tCnRYXwkF83vsWW4B3feUKS&s=jtmXBqGlwGV6EBv57T-Py2hsfrm-Lh3y7Goe0Yjf4_o&e= > was honored as a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper on Wednesday morning.
The accolade brings the Gators’ Freshman All-America total to 47. Under Head Coach Kevin O’Sullivan<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_coaches.aspx-3Frc-3D1445&d=DwIFAw&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=oI3-aLOhzlhv4IkHzumD1yg4ztBie3WO98LWS3Hz1tCnRYXwkF83vsWW4B3feUKS&s=1XA6boQRoJVUurjUMi–ty3wEOb4P7d7056oF2bHrak&e= >, Florida’s 22 Freshman All-Americans rank second nationally while the program’s nine Freshman All-American pitchers are tied for third in the country.
A Boynton Beach, Fla. native, Purnell enjoyed a breakout 2022 campaign after redshirting last season. Purnell pitched in eight more games than any other Gator pitcher, totaling 36 appearances on the year spanning 50 1/3 innings. The right-hander finished with a 3-3 record, four saves, a 2.86 ERA and .258 batting average against. He also helped complete two combined shutouts for Florida and walked just 2.7 batters per nine innings.
The highlight of Purnell’s season came on April 11, when he was named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Week after pitching in all four of Florida’s games while powering the Orange & Blue to a 3-1 record and a series win over No. 2 Arkansas. Across those four appearances, Purnell went 1-0 with one save and produced a 1.29 ERA over seven innings pitched, allowing just five hits with no walks allowed.
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