The Gators have one of the best pitching rotations in the nation, and they have the numbers to prove it.
Florida ranks fourth nationally with a 1.08 ERA and leads the Southeastern Conference in numerous pitching categories, including batting average against (.185) and fewest hits allowed (181).
Hannah Rogers, who has a 0.96 ERA and .176 batting average against, chalks up the Gators pitchers’ success to the defense.
“They always do an awesome job,” Rogers said. “I always thank them after every inning and every game just to help keep them up and their confidence.”
Statistically, Florida has the No. 2 defense in the SEC behind Tennessee. The Gators rank second to the Volunteers with just 27 errors committed and a 97.7 fielding percentage.
Rogers, who notched her 22nd win of the season in a 5-2 victory against Auburn on Sunday, benefited from solid defensive play. Shortstop Cheyenne Coyle was the first UF player to flash the leather Sunday when she made a diving catch on a pop-up in shallow left field, preventing a bloop single from Auburn’s Amber Harrison in the top of the first.
“Cheyenne was making great plays out there at shortstop, diving for things,” first baseman Lauren Haeger said. “We have great defense. Everyone in the field does their job and we don’t have a lot of errors against us.”
Right fielder Kasey Fagan showed off her arm strength in the final two innings Sunday, gunning down two runners from the outfield grass. In the top of the sixth, the Tigers’ Caitlin Jordan hit a line drive that Fagan played off a short hop. Fagan came up throwing and fired a strike to Haeger at first base, beating Jordan by a step.
“That play, it’s funny,” Fagan said. “I was just going to tell Lauren the play before that, ‘If this girl hits it to me, I’m throwing it to you, try to get the out at first.’ Then that play happened, and it just happened so fast. I almost caught it so I just threw it to first as best as I could and I got her out. Coach (Tim Walton) looked pretty excited, so I was pretty excited.”
In the next inning, Fagan couldn’t handle a two-out line drive off the bat of Auburn’s Lauren Guzman. However, Fagan recovered quickly and fired the ball to second where Katie Medina tagged out Guzman to end the game.
“Our defense is so poised in any situation, and we’re able to come up with the big plays because we’re relaxed and we’re able to play loose,” Fagan said.
Florida played mistake-free ball in its three-game sweep against Auburn, running its streak of games without an error to five.
The Gators are 23-1 this season when they record a zero in the “E” column.
“We made some great plays on defense,” Walton said. “Pitching and defense is the name of the game.”
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org
Auburn's Caitlin Schultze is thrown out on a fielders choice (4-6) as Cheyenne Coyle throws to first during the top of the 4th inning, Sunday, April 15th, 2012.
