Behind a career day from sophomore Lauren Haeger, Florida made quick work of USF.
Haeger tied the single-game school record with seven RBI as No. 2 seed UF (54-7) run-ruled South Florida (44-15) in five innings for an 11-1 victory Saturday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The last Gator to record seven RBI in a game was sophomore Bailey Castro, who accomplished the feat against Ole Miss on April 8, 2012.
UF’s victory against USF avenges a 1-0 elimination loss to the Bulls in last year’s regional.
USF jumped ahead 1-0 in the first after a UF error. With the bases loaded, Bulls catcher Lee Ann Spivey drove the ball to junior pitcher Hannah Rogers, who threw to freshman catcher Taylore Fuller to tag out Kourtney Salvarola. But Fuller, who wanted the double play, overthrew first baseman Taylor Schwarz – allowing Stephanie Medina to score for South Florida.
Before Florida’s NCAA Regional matchup against USF, coach Tim Walton called Bulls ace Sara Nevins “one of the best pitchers in the country.” But the Gators had her number Saturday afternoon.
Nevins came into the game with a 0.93 ERA and four allowed home runs on the year, but she lasted only 1.1 innings after allowing two homers.
“We know how tough [Nevins] is, and we know how good she is,” Walton said. “To be honest with you, she’s still good. Just because we got a W today, we’ve got our work cut out for us if we face her again.”
After Kelsey Stewart singled and Kirsti Merritt was hit by a pitch, Haeger sent a pitch from Nevins past the left-center field fence to help the Gators to a 3-1 lead with one out in the first.
“I knew they were trying to walk me, so I knew they were just coming right at me,” Haeger said. “She was throwing a curveball in, and I fouled a couple off and I just got my timing just right.”
Added Walton: “For Lauren to get us going with that three-run homer, it changed all the momentum potentially that we could have either had or lost, having runners on base. It was a huge at-bat for us.”
In the first at-bat of the second inning, Fuller knocked her second home run in two days to increase UF’s lead to 4-1. The freshman catcher entered the NCAA Tournament with two home runs on the season.
Nevins loaded the bases and was taken out for Sam Greiner, setting the stage for Haeger.
Again, Haeger notched a three-RBI hit as she doubled to center field to score all three runners and gave Florida a six-run lead.
“It was nice that they loaded the bases, so I knew they were going to go right at me again,” Haeger said. “Just get my foot down, being aggressive against a new pitcher. Just see my pitch and hit it and try to take it up the middle hard.”
Senior Kelsey Horton followed with an RBI double for the 8-1 advantage in the second.
Haeger earned her final RBI of the day in the third when she was hit by a pitch with bases loaded.
Rogers struck out six batters and walked four in five innings pitched. For the day, she allowed only one hit.
Florida is one win away from advancing to Super Regional play and will compete in the regional championship game Sunday at 1.
Contact Landon Watnick at lwatnick@alligator.org.
Sophomore Lauren Haeger (17) joins her teammates at home plate after a three-RBI blast during Florida’s 11-1 win against USF on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Against the Bulls, Haeger racked up seven RBI – tying a single-game UF record.
Junior ace Hannah Rogers throws a pitch during Florida’s 11-1 victory against USF on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers struck out seven batters Sunday, leading the Gators to a 1-0 win against UAB and a trip to the Women's College World Series.
Sophomore Lauren Haeger prepares for her at-bat during Florida’s 11-1 victory against USF on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
