Hannah Rogers made quick work of the Gamecocks on Friday night.
Throwing a two-hit shutout on just 85 pitches, the junior ace collected her 27th win of the season during Florida’s 5-0 win in Columbia, S.C.
Rogers did not walk a batter and allowed only a leadoff double in the third inning and a single in the fifth before stranding each runner on base.
Florida scored all five of its runs in the third.
Catcher Aubree Munro walked to begin the inning and advanced to second when Katie Media beat out a sacrifice bunt attempt. On a 1-2 pitch, Kelsey Stewart reached with a bunt of her own to load the bases
South Carolina starter Julie Sarratt finally buckled under the pressure. She allowed an RBI single by Kirsti Merritt, the first of three consecutive run-scoring hits.
Stephanie Tofft singled to right, bumping the Gators lead up to 2-0 by driving in Medina. Medina and Stewart scored on an error on the relay, leaving Tofft by at third.
With the Gators up 4-0, Sarratt was left in the circle to face Lauren Haeger. Haeger drove in Tofft with an RBI single to left — the Gators’ final run of the night.
Florida looks to continue its momentum in Game 2 of the series at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Beckham Field
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.
