No. 2 Florida softball owns weekend with 5-0 start

By Adam Silverstein
February 13, 2012

In a weekend that saw some Florida Gators teams falter and others come out on top, No. 2 softball ensured that everyone knew they were for real by winning five games over two days at the USF-Fairfield Inn & Suites Tournament in Tampa, FL.

Florida (5-0) spent Saturday wiping the floor with their competition, shutting out Long Island, Maine and Illinois State in a trio of run-ruled affairs by a combined 27-0.

Sophomore pitcher Hannah Rogers threw nine scoreless innings, striking out 14 while giving up just five hits and two walks combined in the first and third games, while freshman P Lauren Haeger earned her first win, shutout and complete game in orange and blue with a three-hit, 11-strikeout performance against Maine.

Haeger struggled a bit in the second appearance of her career, allowing an earned run on four walks and three hits with only three strikeouts against South Florida. Rogers came on to pitch the final 2.2 innings of the affair and helped lead the Gators to a 3-2 extra innings victory. She retook the hill in Florida’s final game Sunday against Florida Gulf Coast, striking out nine while only giving up three hits and walking one in a 5-0 win.

The hot starts of Rogers (4-0) and Haeger (1-0) were only matched by the hitting showcase put on by their teammates behind the plate.

The veteran Gators did their part with junior catcher Brittany Schutte finishing 5/15 with six RBIs, five runs and three walks; sophomore shortstop Cheyenne Coyle powering Florida by going 4/13 with two home runs, seven RBIs, three runs and two walks; junior right fielder Kelsey Horton hitting 7/13 with two homers, five RBIs, four runs and three walks; and senior center fielder Michelle Moultrie ending up 4/12 from the plate with eight runs, three walks and five stolen bases.

Florida’s freshmen played their part in the offensive breakout as well. Third baseman Sami Fagan hit .666 (10/15) with three RBIs, seven runs, two walks and a pair of stolen bases, and Haeger did double duty behind the plate and in the field by hitting 5/16 with a home run, eight RBIs, three runs and two walks while also playing first base.

There is no rest for the weary Gators coming any time soon as Florida will play four home games before the week is up including one against Jacksonville on Wednesday and a three-game series against Michigan State Friday-Sunday. UF will then travel to Palm Springs, CA the following week to participate in the Cathedral City Classic.

Photo Credit: SEC Digital Network

2 Comments

  1. cline says:

    Love the long ball. Go Gators!

  2. panhandle says:

    Nice to see the young Freshman, Haeger, get her first win.

    Maybe this team has a little more pitching depth than last year.

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