Thornburg, Bucs Won't Stop Here After Big Win Over Florida

Tyler Thornburg's routine didn't change just because he went the distance on 158 pitches and registered a career-high 11 strikeouts against nationally-ranked Florida a day earlier.

Thornburg, a talented two-way player at Charleston Southern University, arrived for practice Monday afternoon and went Forrest Gump, so to speak. Thornburg started to run and didn't stop for 30 minutes. He also mixed in stretches and sprints in an effort to accelerate his recovery.

Of course, workouts are always more enjoyable after a win. And Thornburg and the Buccaneers are determined to build on Sunday's effort at Florida and make this a special season in Charleston, S.C. Charleston Southern last appeared in an NCAA Regional in 1996, going two-and-out against Clemson and Tennessee.

"It was a ton of fun, just going out there knowing you are winning against a top-10 team in the nation, and everyone was excited," Thornburg told FanHouse. "My arm doesn't feel bad at all."

Thornburg, a junior from Atlanta, snapped the Gators' five-game winning streak and their stretch of nine consecutive victories at home. The right-hander scattered seven hits and walked three behind three quality pitches.

Thornburg struck out the last two UF batters in the bottom of the ninth to give CSU the 6-3 victory after it was outscored 22-10 in the opening two games of the series.

"It was a gutsy performance," UF head coach Kevin O'Sullivan said. "He didn't fold the tent. That's about as gutsy of a performance as I've seen in a long time."

Thornburg, 21, earned Big South Conference Pitcher of the Week honors and was named to the College Baseball Foundation's weekly "National All-Star Lineup." He currently leads the Big South in strikeouts (30) and wins (3) this season, and his 25.2 innings pitched are second in the league.

To top it off, the complete game was the second of his career -- he also went the distance against Presbyterian College on March 22, 2008.

That's all fine and dandy, but Thornburg is more excited about the big picture under second-year coach Stuart Lake. The experienced Bucs open their conference schedule Friday at home against nationally-ranked Coastal Carolina.

Charleston Southern returns six starters and 17 letter winners from last year's team that finished 16-37. Included in the group are returning team leaders in hitting, runs, home runs, RBI, innings pitched and victories.

Thornburg helps headline the starting lineup. The right fielder/pitcher set a program record last season with 49 RBI and had a team-best 12 home runs. He also went 4-4 with a 3.73 ERA.

The Bucs currently feature three players -- Brantley Meier (.435), 2008 freshman All-American Derek Smith (.419) and Nick Chinners (.403) -- hitting higher than .400.

"I think the biggest difference from the past teams I've been on here is No. 1, we have so much more talent at every position," Thornburg said. "The pitching is way deeper than it has been in the past and mentally I think this team is a lot stronger than the past few teams."

Thornburg was raised on the diamond, playing baseball as long as he can remember.

He was on youth travel teams in Atlanta and, as a 12-year-old, was on the area's Little League All-Star team that lost to Apopka, Fla., in the nationally-televised Southeast Regional. That Apopka team featured current Florida State third baseman Stuart Tapley. Thornburg and Tapley played against each other last summer in the Cape Cod League.

In fact, Thornburg said that experience in the Cape -- he tallied eight saves with the Brewster Whitecaps -- proved beneficial against the Gators.

"Knowing that you can pitch against some of the best players in the nationally really helped, especially against a team like Florida and its hitters," said Thornburg, a 5-foot-11, 190-pounder.

While it's also believed Thornburg's pitch count against UF could be a season-high at the Division I level -- Asher Wojciechowski of The Citadel threw 138 pitches over eight innings with 14 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over Western Carolina last Friday -- Thornburg doesn't mind the work load.

He takes care of his body, he's a competitor, and the Bucs (8-10) are chasing history. Plus, the coaching staff is determined to help protect Thornburg's arm. He played in just one of two mid-week games, starting at first base in the second against Savannah State on Wednesday.

"Once I got to the seventh inning (against UF), no way I was going to come out," Thornburg said. "It's the main reason why I came to Charleston Southern - I wanted to play both positions (pitcher and outfield). We can build on this win. It's fun."

And it has been fun watching Thornburg.

"Tyler is a great player who gave a great performance against Florida," Bucs pitching coach Charles Assey said.

"He had all three of his pitches working, and as he showed, when that happens he can beat any team in the country. And for him to go all nine innings - that was a gutsy performance."