OKLAHOMA CITY — Missouri's Chelsea Thomas let go of a 2-2 pitch to Megan Bush and, within seconds, the ball clanked off the left-field bleachers at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. For a pitcher who has been one of college softball's best all season, the homer was a mind-numbing mistake in her worst start of the year.
The No. 4-seed Gators (53-10) beat Thomas and her fifth-seeded Tigers (52-9) 6-2 in the nightcap of Day 1 at the Women's College World Series.
"We were prepared," UF coach Tim Walton said. "I thought we watched enough video to get ourselves ready to go, and I thought we came out and executed a great game plan."
With their somewhat unorthodox two-pitcher tandem, the Gators managed to out-duel the nation's leader in earned run average. Before Thursday, Thomas had not given up more than three runs in a game all season and had only surrendered seven round-trippers in 245.2 innings.
"I do think that she might not have been exactly prepared for the type of power that our offense has," three-hole hitter Kelsey Bruder said. "I do think we have some of the best hitters in the country."
Florida came after the first-team All-American hurler early, tallying a 2-0 lead in the first-inning off RBIs by Bruder (single) and Brittany Schutte (sacrifice bunt).
"I was ready the first inning, and they jumped on every one of the changeups I threw," Thomas said. "That's usually my strikeout pitch."
Stephanie Brombacher got the start for UF but lasted just 2.1 innings. She didn't allow any runs, but the senior got into trouble and turned the game over to freshman Hannah Rogers with runners on first and second and one out in the third.
UF's flame-throwing freshman walked the first batter she faced before buckling down against the middle of Mizzou‘s lineup. She struck out Ashley Fleming — Missouri's most potent power hitter — before forcing Catherine Lee to fly out to left.
"Hannah's an All-American pitcher now," Walton said. "When you're an All-American pitcher, you're going to come in there and get outs."
Rogers' huge WCWS debut moment sparked an offensive outburst in the bottom of the frame as Michelle Moultrie led off with a solo shot to left-center, just her third long-ball of the season.
After a Bruder walk, Bush unleashed her UF single-season record 21st blast of the year — her first in 15 games.
"It's just really fun to get that feeling back because I've been missing it a little bit," the senior first baseman said.
With the biggest deficit Missouri had faced all season, Rogers cruised after the three-run third. The right-hander's performance was only tainted by a two-run double by Lisa Simmons in the sixth.
Ensley Gammel finished the scoring with a sixth-inning RBI single to center.
With the victory, Florida advances to play No. 1-seed Arizona State on Friday at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
