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The Gators softball team became the first squad in Southeastern
Conference history to make the Women’s College World Series four
years in a row.
The
Oregon Ducks served as little more than a brief speed bump for UF’s
blazing bats.
Florida out-hit and out-pitched its Pac-10 counterpart to a 7-0
series-clinching win in Game 2 of the Gainesville Super Regional on
Saturday.
“We
scored a lot of different ways,“ UF coach Tim Walton said. “You
expect it, but you don’t anticipate it every time.”
Sophomore slugger Brittany Schutte obliterated Oregon pitching with
two bombs in Game 1, but the torch was momentarily passed to others
at the rejuvenated top of UF’s lineup on Saturday.
Schutte saw her first strike of the day after nine pitches and two
walks.
“Today, my plan was to kind of pitch around Schutte,” Ducks starter
Jessica Moore (24-11) said. “But then you have to pitch to someone
else. It’s pretty much pick your poison in their lineup.”
Avoiding UF’s right fielder meant Moore had to go after Michelle
Moultrie, Kelsey Bruder and Megan Bush. Led by Moultrie, the trio
went a combined 5 for 11 with four RBIs.
But
Florida’s effort was not complete without a sixth-inning Schutte
resurgence. The sophomore drove a first pitch deep to left-center
for a three-run homer, chasing Moore from the game. The blast gave
Schutte her third blast and seventh RBI of the Super Regional — and
a curtain call from the Pressly Stadium faithful.
The
sixth-inning round-tripper tied Megan Bush and Francesca Enea’s UF
single-season home run record (20) and broke the Gators team
single-season record (110).
“I’m very proud of Schutte,” Bruder said. “She’s doing a great job,
and I know she’s going to continue because once the postseason
comes, that’s when she shines.”
Florida was anchored by freshman pitcher Hannah Rogers (33-6), who
tossed a complete-game four-hitter. The righty was aided by
outstanding, error-free defense including highlight plays by
Cheyenne Coyle and Moultrie.
“I’m like everybody else,” first baseman Bush said. “I watch them
make the plays, and I’m just excited that they make it, and then I
remember that I have to do my part too.”
Walton got uncharacteristically emotional when asked about
Moultrie’s performance. After composing himself, he said his center
fielder “couldn’t catch a cold” her freshman year as a walk-on but
has become “better than anyone could ever expect.”
Oregon — a team usually fueled by pitching and defense — couldn’t
live up to its
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With their offense slumping, the Ducks committed three errors on
Saturday, and Moore walked six batters.
“Unfortunately we ran into a little bit of a buzz saw today,” OU
coach Mike White said. “The University of Florida sure played like
champions.”
Saturday’s game marked the last home contest for the winningest
senior class in UF history, but it also sent the five players to
their home away from home — ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma
City.
“It
just means a lot,” catcher Tiffany DeFelice said. “I didn’t want my
last time wearing a Gator jersey to be on this field.”
