The Southeastern Conference named Lauren Haeger as one of the league’s players of the week for her performance against No. 8 Tennessee last weekend, but her hot streak has not ended.
After hitting a home run and picking up four RBI against USC Upstate on Wednesday, Haeger came into this weekend’s series against the Razorbacks ready to swing the bat.
Haeger went 2 for 3 at the plate in No. 3 Florida’s (30-3, 6-2 SEC) doubleheader against Arkansas (21-12, 0-5 SEC) on Friday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
“I feel like I’m seeing the ball like a beach ball,” Haeger said.
The Gators and Razorbacks game on Sunday was moved to Friday because poor weather was forecasted for the final game.
Haeger sparked the offense in the first of the two-game set. With center fielder Kirsti Merritt on first base, Haeger sent a 2-2 pitch out to left-center field for her 12th home run of the year.
Haeger walked in her second at-bat but roped an RBI double in her third, driving in her third run of the day.
She did not see another pitch to hit until her final at-bat. The Arkansas staff pitched around Haeger in her next four at-bats as she recorded five walks in the two games.
“It’s good for me,” Haeger said. “The more runners we can get on base with no outs – hello, the people behind me are going to hit.”
Haeger provided all the offense the Gators needed in the first game. Pitcher Hannah Rogers set the Razorbacks down quickly, facing only three batters more than the minimum as the Gators won 8-0 in six innings.
The junior right-hander struck out nine batters in her start in the first game, and recorded four more punch outs when she relieved Haeger in the circle in game two.
“From the very start, I just felt super loose and I felt like the ball was coming off my fingers hard,” Rogers said.
Haeger’s day in the circle was not as successful. The sophomore gave up two runs in the first inning of game two before buckling down and pitching four scoreless frames.
The Gators came back from the two-run deficit in the third inning. Merritt tripled off the wall in left field and Haeger drew a walk. Sophomore Briana Little scored Merritt with a single and senior Kelsey Horton cleared the bases with a two-run double.
Florida tacked on two more insurance runs in the next inning on Little’s second RBI hit of the day, giving UF its final run in a 5-2 victory.
Florida plays the final game of the series on Saturday at 3.
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Sophomore Lauren Haeger (17) swings during an at-bat in Florida’s 6-5 win against Tennessee on March 15 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Haeger went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double and five walks in Friday's doubleheader against Arkansas.
