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Gilliland a 'workhorse' for Tigers
3/20/2009
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
As a junior, Fort Hays State University left-hander Eric Gilliland pitched in a variety of roles. He made 11 starts, seven relief appearances and was the team's closer for the postseason. His 78 2/3 innings ranked just off the top-10 list for a single season in the Tiger annals.
A year later, Gilliland has experienced two changes: He stayed in the same role and developed a devastating slider to left-handed batters. Gilliland has been the Tigers' ace for every series and pitched solely on Friday nights. His offspeed pitches have helped make him one of the top starters in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
"He has really turned into a top front line MIAA pitcher," head coach Rick Sabath said.
The adjustments have helped Gilliland transform himself with Fort Hays. As a junior, he posted a 3-5 record and a 6.29 earned run average.
This season, Gilliland, a sidearming left-hander, is 3-4 with a 3.35 mark, ninth in the MIAA. The durable senior also leads the conference in innings pitched (43), is tied for the lead in starts (seven) and ranks in the top four in innings per appearance, complete games and shutouts in his second year for Fort Hays. The Tigers (13-13, 5-7 MIAA) will face Missouri Southern State University (13-10, 6-4 MIAA) in a four-game road series this weekend. Gilliland will pitch tonight at 5 p.m.
"Really the biggest difference for me has just been commannding my offspeed pitches," he said Wednesday. "Last year I really somehow pitched 80 innings with a fastball. Got two pitches I can go to now."
Gilliland's emergence has helped a starting rotation that has three strong starters in Gilliland and junior Matt Augustine and senior Kent Williamson, a Division II transfer. The trio has posted a collective 4.16 earned run average. Last season, no Tiger pitcher had a ERA better than 4.60. Augustine has posted a 4.93 ERA while relying on control with a fastball and changeup.
"(Matt's) changeup works away from hitters, so that always gets them off balance," senior catcher AJ Levanduski said. "He is kind of a sidearm guy, tries to get the 2-seam fastball to work in on their hands."
Williamson, a transfer, uses a fastball and a 12-6 bottom-dropping curveball to produce a 3-0 record and 4.50 ERA.
"Matt, has always been good for us. He has stepped up too this year, he is throwing well for us," Levanduski said. "Kent is probably one of the best pickups on the pitching staff this year."
Gilliland, though, has made the biggest jump. An over-the-top pitcher in high school, Gilliland moved to sidearm at Cloud County Community College, transferred to Fort Hays and was used in mutliple roles. Gilliland started several series-opening games but was moved to the bullpen for the conference tournament. His problems with offspeed pitches yielded a .320 average against left-handed batters, a mark he labeled "as pretty terrible."
"This year, I have put a huge emphasis on getting left-handers out, slider has been helped out," he said.
Gilliland posted a strong summer for the Junction City Generals, including a shutout over the Hays Larks and two starts at the NBC World Series in Wichita. In the wintertime, Gilliland made a change with his slider, a difference to make everything "simpler."
The adjustment is coupled with set roles for Fort Hays' staff, including Gilliland as the team's ace. He has relished the chance to match up with the opponents' top starter every Friday.
"I think my arm feels better now then it ever really has and it has benefited from that routine," he said.
"Eric has really improved this year," Levanduski added. "He is throwing harder, he has got a lot more velocity on it. He has shown some improvement mentally, too."
The slider has helped Gilliland work off his 80 to 90 mile an hour fastball and hold left-handers under a .200 average. In his last last three outings, Gilliland has earned a conference Pitcher of the Week award, posted two complete games, one shutout and worked at least seven innings with a slider that Levanduski says "probably breaks almost a plate length."
"This year I have thrown my slider a lot more times than not and it has really made all of my pitches better," he said.
"The whole reason that I have been able to get lefties out this year is because of that slider."
Gilliland's durability has remained. As a junior, he threw 110 pitches and six strong innings against Northwest Missouri State University. The next day, he came to Sabath with a request. He wanted to throw on three days' rest against Washburn University, instead of the normal four to six days off for a starting pitcher. He got the start and threw seven innings.
Last Friday, Gilliland worked seven strong innings against Emporia State University, the nation's No. 5 team. Gilliland offered to throw Sunday on one's days rest if needed.
"He doesn't really ever complain off arm soreness," Sabath said. "He is a guy that seems like his arm has great bounce back ability. He is one of those guys that doesn't seem to be affected by a lot of throwing."
Those are unique guys," he added.
And so far, it's been a unique season for Gilliland.
"He is a workhorse," Levanduski said.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |