Courtesy of Florida Athletics
The University of Florida softball team defeated UCF, 7-0, on Sunday in the final of the NCAA Tournament Gainesville Regional. The Orange and Blue scored in four of the seven innings and shut out their third consecutive opponent, running their record this season against in-state foes to 10-1.
Stephanie Tofft drew a one-out walk in the first to set up a two-run home run by Lauren Haeger that gave the sixth-ranked Gators (48-11) a 2-0 lead. Following free passes by Briana Little and Bailey Castro, Taylor Schwarz reached on a two-out error that allowed Little to come home. Schwarz was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play to end the inning.
Haeger (10-2) took a three-run cushion to the circle, and held the Knights (43-18) scoreless with a flyout and two strikeouts following back-to-back singles. Florida loaded the bases with one out in the second, but was not able to manufacture a run. The Gators’ third-year hurler retired the Knights in order in the home half with two strikeouts and a groundout.
Castro walked to lead off the third, and pinch-runner Justine McLean scored three batters later on Taylore Fuller’s RBI single to increase the UF lead to 4-0. After another 1-2-3 frame from Haeger, Kelsey Stewart doubled to lead off the fourth, advancing to third on Tofft’s flyout before beating the throw home on Haeger’s fielder’s choice.
Holding a 5-0 edge in the bottom of the inning, Haeger allowed a two-out single before ending the fourth with a flyout to left. The Gators started the fifth with a single from Kirsti Merritt and a walk from Schwarz, but both were stranded. The Orange and Blue then left a UCF runner on base in the home half following a two-out single up the middle.
Florida put together a two-out rally in the sixth when Little walked and McLean singled. Both Gators moved up on stolen bases, and Merritt drove them in with a two-run single up the middle. The Orange and Blue used a 6-3 double play to retire the Knights after a one-out base hit to left in the bottom of the inning.
Florida loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but was unable to push a run across. UCF had a baserunner in the home half thanks to a Gator miscue, but Aubree Munro erased the runner trying to steal second. Two groundouts ended the game and sealed Florida’s seventh trip to the NCAA Super Regionals.
