HOOVER, Ala. -- Luke Holman stepped up in the absence of injured preseason All-American Grayson Hitt to become the ace of Alabama's pitching staff this season. During the SEC tournament last week, the hard-throwing sophomore from Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, held Florida to only two runs in 5.2 innings.
But the first question during the postgame news conference that night wasn't about how Holman left with the lead and a chance for a signature win against the No. 2 team in the country. It wasn't about how the Gators went on to tie the game and later win in the 11th inning on a three-run walkoff homer.