Courtesy of Florida Athletics
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Behind senior Lauren Haeger’s two-hitter, the No. 1-seeded University of Florida softball team (54-6) blanked Kentucky (33-25) on Saturday afternoon in front of a sellout crowd (1,739) in Game 1 of an NCAA Super Regional, 7-0 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Peoria, Ariz. product improved to 27-1 on the season and has now tossed 22.2 consecutive scoreless innings against the Wildcats. Offensively, UF was led by freshman Kayli Kvistad, who notched her seventh career three-RBI game.
UF jumped on the Wildcats early, as the Gators plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning on three hits.
Florida loaded the bases following a pair of singles by junior Kelsey Stewart and freshman Nicole DeWitt and a walk from junior Kirsti Merritt. Junior Taylore Fuller was then hit-by-a-pitch to plate Stewart and give UF a 1-0 lead. Kvistad then bashed a bases-clearing double over UK’s right fielder to give UF a 4-0 advantage.
The Gators never looked back.
Behind great defense and standout pitching from Haeger, UF held the Wildcats to just two baserunners to secure the Game 1 victory.
Florida tacked on three insurance runs in the sixth, as Haeger blasted a solo homer and Merritt hit a two-run bomb to give UF a commanding 7-0 lead. Bailey Castro reached base before Merritt’s long ball as she was hit by a pitch.
Those homers were the 16th and ninth jacks of the season for Haeger and Merritt, respectively.
STARS OF THE GAME
- Lauren Haeger: The right-hander retired Kentucky’s first 16 batters and allowed just two baserunners the entire game.
- Kayli Kvistad: The freshman’s three-run double extended the Gators’ lead to four in the bottom of the first inning.
- Kirsti Merritt: The Lake Panasoffkee, Fla., native gave UF a commanding 7-0 advantage in the bottom of the sixth inning when she hit her ninth homer of the season.
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