On April 5, Hannah Rogers came close to reaching the apex of pitching performance.
In a run-rule shortened, six-inning game against Mississippi State, the junior right-hander tossed a no-hitter, the first solo no-hitter for Florida since Stacey Nelson threw seven hitless innings against Arkansas on April 26, 2009.
Although Rogers walked four, hit two batters and allowed a run, it was still a milestone in the junior’s already celebrated career.
“I never really thought about it,” Rogers said. “It never really crossed my mind … which is probably a good thing; when you start thinking about it, it gets in your head.”
But since tossing the no-no, Rogers has struggled. In her last three starts, she posted an ERA of 6.42.
Rogers’ slump began in the final game of the Gators’ series against the Bulldogs. After pitching a solid first inning, she surrendered five runs in the second. She didn’t come back out for the third.
“I don’t think anything was working for her,” coach Tim Walton said after the game. “I don’t think her stuff was very good.”
Rogers’ struggles continued when No. 3 Florida (41-5, 14-4 Southeastern Conference) traveled to Lexington, Ky., to play No. 17 Kentucky last weekend.
The right-hander’s performance was better than her previous trip to Lexington, when she gave up 24 runs in one weekend as a freshman, but the junior still struggled.
In her start in Game 1 of the series, she notched her first victory in Lexington, pitching seven innings while striking out six, but surrendering three runs.
In Game 3, Rogers only pitched three innings, giving up another three runs and striking out only one Wildcat.
Rogers was not the only Florida pitcher to struggle against Kentucky. Sophomore Lauren Haeger lost on Saturday after giving up nine hits to the team with the second-lowest batting average in the SEC.
“They were really picky,” Haeger said. “We had umpires that were really true to the corners. It was kind of a hitting atmosphere as opposed to the pitchers just striking everyone out.”
The Kentucky batters waited Rogers out when they faced her last weekend. Rogers issued seven walks or hit by pitches.
Since pitching her no-hitter, Rogers has struggled with her command. When Rogers actually found the strike zone in her past three games, her pitches were hit.
“She was obviously throwing the ball over the plate too much,” Walton said after Rogers’ loss to Mississippi State.
Florida travels to Tallahassee to finish its season series with Florida State (34-14, 13-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) tonight at 6 at JoAnne Graf Field.
Rogers will likely get the start against the ACC’s top team.
Rogers pitched in the Gators’ previous game against the Seminoles, tossing eight innings and surrendering eight hits but only three runs.
Despite her solid performance against FSU on March 27, Walton might decide to rest his ace.
“We need multiple pitchers,” Walton said after defeating USF 9-1 on April 10.
“Hannah can’t continue to throw (after pitching) in 17 of the last 19 games.”
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Junior Hannah Rogers waits in the circle during Florida’s 4-2 win against Mississippi State on April 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers threw 288 pitches in 15 innings of work in the Southeastern Conference Tournament last weekend.
