For the third time this weekend, Michelle Moultrie came up in the
clutch.
The speedy centerfielder went 3 for 3 at the plate, including two
run-scoring triples, as No. 4 Florida (14-0) defeated Utah (5-10)
7-3 to cap off a perfect weekend at the Cathedral City Classic in
Palm Springs, Calif.
After driving in the clinching runs against Texas and UCLA,
Moultrie came up with another timely hit to put the Gators ahead
over the Utes on Saturday.
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Moultrie laced a
triple down the right field line, scoring Ensley Gammel.
Second baseman Aja Paculba knocked a single, scoring the junior
from third, and putting the Gators up for good.
However, the scoring didn’t stop there as UF added four insurance
runs in the sixth inning.
Once again, Moultrie was at the center of the action.
After Kelsey Horton and Kasey Fagan hit RBI singles, Moultrie
tripled to left center, scoring Fagan and Ashley Snedeker.
It was a big tournament for Moultrie, who went 10 for 17 with nine
RBIs, all while hitting out of the leadoff spot in four of five
games.
After hitting only one home run in the first four games of the
tournament, the Gators’ power stroke made a re-appearance when
Megan Bush hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.
While the offense didn’t put up big scores like it had earlier in
the season, it produced at the right time especially on a day when
the action was close.
Senior Stephanie Brombacher wasn’t at her best, but proved why she
is viewed as one of the top pitchers in the country.
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UF’s typically
efficient ace had control issues, surrendering a season-high four
walks.
However, she worked around the bases on balls, surrendering two
earned runs on six hits in 6.2 innings of work. The senior improved
to 8-0 on the year.
Coming into the tournament, Brombacher had tossed 31 scoreless
innings, but she allowed two earned runs in all three of her
starts.
