While Aja Paculba, Kelsey Bruder and Megan Bush often receive national attention for their gaudy numbers, the group has one person to credit for its success: leadoff hitter Michelle Moultrie.
When she is not laying down textbook bunts or swiping bases, the dynamic junior is chasing down fly balls most players wouldn’t have a chance at.
Despite her reserved personality, her value speaks for itself.
“I’ve been coaching softball for 13 years, and this is my second time to have a player of her importance to a team,” UF coach Tim Walton said. “She might hit a home run. She might drop a bunt. You get too close, she might hit you.”
Moultrie’s versatility has been key to UF’s success this season. She leads the team in batting average (.466), on-base percentage (.548) and stolen bases (19) and is tied with Bruder for the team lead in runs scored (48).
“I don’t know what we’d do without her in center field,” Paculba said. “She saves a lot of runs and a lot of extra-base hits.”
Moultrie will need to set the tone tonight at 7 as No. 10 Florida (34-7, 10-6 Southeastern Conference) faces a tough road matchup against No. 24 Auburn (32-9, 11-6 SEC).
The Tigers may not have the Gators’ offensive firepower, but they do have one of the best rotations in the country.
While UF’s pitching staff carries an impressive 2.05 earned run average, Auburn’s three-deep rotation holds an even better 1.85 mark.
After leaning on freshman Hannah Rogers for more than a month, the Gators could be getting a boost against the Tigers as senior Stephanie Brombacher looks to return from a bicep injury.
Walton said she could have pitched Wednesday against FIU if UF had jumped out to a bigger lead, but he didn’t want to put her in a high-pressure situation.
“Yesterday she threw hard, and today she threw harder, so it was good to see that and get a positive message back from her,” Walton said after Wednesday’s 8-0 win. “Today was the first day she really wanted to get out there and pitch.”
