Alabama runs over Florida 10-1 in SEC final

By Adam Silverstein
May 12, 2012

No. 7 Florida Gators softball’s clutch hitting and dominant pitching both came to a halt on Saturday as the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide dominated the 2012 Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game and downed their rivals 10-1 in a run-ruled five-inning contest.

With home field advantage and arguably the best player in the tournament on their side, Alabama (50-7) beat up on Florida (46-11) for the third time in four matchups this season (all of which took place at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL).

The Crimson Tide hit Gators freshman right-handed pitcher Lauren Haeger early and often, rallying for two runs in the bottom of the first and tagging her for two homers (a three-run shot and two-run bomb) and six total runs in the third.

Florida cut Alabama’s 2-0 lead in half by scoring in the top of the second but left six players on base and did not plate another run for the remainder of the contest.

Haeger (14-5, 3.0 IP, 6 H, 8 ER, 4 BB, K) was pulled as the Gators faced an 8-1 deficit, but sophomore RHP Hannah Rogers (1.0 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 BB, K) did not fare much better. Rogers allowed two more runs to score in the fourth and gave the Crimson Tide the necessary margin to end the contest early and claim their title.

Alabama won their first SEC Tournament Championship since 2010 while Florida will wait until next year to try and capture their first since 2009. Both teams will learn of their respective seedings in the 2012 NCAA Tournament during the selection show on Sunday at 10 p.m. live on ESPNU.

Haeger, freshman third baseman Sami Fagan and sophomore shortstop Cheyenne Coyle were named to the 2012 SEC All-Tournament Team following the title game.

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