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BT Riopelle discusses postseason power surge following HR in CWS opener
By Paul Harvey
Published:
BT Riopelle has been a leader for Florida’s baseball team since arriving via the transfer portal from Coastal Carolina. This postseason, Riopelle has developed a knack for delivering key home runs for the Gators.
That power surge for Riopelle surfaced once again in Florida’s College World Series opener vs. Virginia. With the Gators trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the 8th, Riopelle delivered a solo HR to cut into the deficit.
Riopelle would later take a hit-by-pitch to keep the line moving in the bottom of the 9th before Florida walked things off. He finished the night 2-for-3 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, 1 of just 2 Gators with 2 hits on the evening.
With his HR Friday night, Riopelle now has 7 HRs going back to the SEC Tournament matchup against Alabama. Though he did sustain a 4-game stretch without a hit, 7 of Riopelle’s last 9 hits in the postseason have been HRs, a stat he was asked about after Friday’s win.
Riopelle admitted he was unaware of those numbers but attributed the power surge to simply getting good pitches and not missing them:
“I did not know that. I’m just getting pitches over the plate and I guess I’m not missing them. I don’t know how I’m doing that, honestly. But just kind of clicking for me, I think,” said Riopelle.
“All the times in my life where I’ve had the opportunity to do things that I’m doing right now and I didn’t do them has just prepared me for what I’m doing now. It’s sticking to the approach and believing in the coaches and myself and the players around me.
“That gives me all the confidence in the world. It’s definitely a credit to everybody around me.”
Riopelle certainly provided a spark that Florida was looking for Friday night, and he’s done that more than a few times this postseason. We’ll see if he has more long-ball magic in store as the Gators advance to the winners’ bracket to face Oral Roberts.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
