In her first career Women's College World Series at-bat on Thursday, Chelsea Herndon saw a familiar face.
The Carrollton, Texas, freshman, pinch-hitting for Aubree Munro in the bottom of the fifth, stepped into the batter’s box and faced Baylor sophomore right-handed pitcher Heather Stearns — her teammate at Carrollton (Texas) Hebron High School for three years.
“We stay in touch, congratulate each other on going to the World Series and the successes we have had, but that's about it,” the Florida freshman said. “I'm in Florida and she is in Waco, but we stay in touch, we communicate.”
But Herndon was on the better side of the reunion — crushing a walk-off grand slam to left-center field to give the fifth-seeded Gators (51-12) an 11-0, run-rule victory over the No. 13 Bears (47-15) in the first game of the Women’s College World Series.
“I went up there with a clear mind and I was calm. I wasn't going to let the nerves get a hold of me and when I saw a good pitch I took a hack at it,” Herndon said.
“I used to play with her in high school so I faced her a lot in practice. I wasn't going to let that get to me.”
Herndon capped off Florida’s six-run fifth inning en route to its fifth mercy rule contest and sixth shutout since NCAA play began.
“We've done a better job of hitting the ball on the ground,” coach Tim Walton said. “We have done a better job of hitting line drives. We’ve got enough bunts; not too many, but enough. We've gone to the slap a lot more; you can see our hitters going to that.”
One of those hitters who has moved toward the power slapper role is Kirsti Merritt.
“It changes my mechanics, I guess,” the sophomore center fielder said. “I went to the slap and it makes me see the ball better and hit the ball better than when I'm standing in.”
Her stats show it.
In the bottom of the third inning, Merritt hit a leadoff home run to center field — her 12th long ball of the season and her second in three at-bats — to give Florida a 4-0 advantage.
“Her slap is brand new,” Walton said. “That's what she is saying. It's helped her smooth her hands out and feel and see the ball.”
In the circle, Hannah Rogers continued her dominance and advanced in the record book. By pitching the complete game shutout, Rogers took sole possession of second place in UF’s record book for most career solo shutouts with 39.
The senior right-handed pitcher and four-time All-American has not surrendered a run since the fourth inning of Florida’s 5-1 win against Arkansas on May 4 — a span of 26 innings.
In her 21 innings of NCAA play this season, Rogers has surrendered just 12 hits while striking out 18 batters and allowing six walks.
“I think the way I have been pitching lately has given me confidence to go out there and shut it down.” Rogers said.
Added catcher Aubree Munro: “Ever since postseason (began) Hannah has had that look in her eye. She's been really focused and getting in really good work in the pen and so she's been bringing it every day. It was no different today.”
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Chelsea Herndon bats during Florida's 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. On Thusday, Herndon hit a pinch-hit grand slam to force a run-rule victory in Florida's 11-0 win against Baylor in the first game of the Women's College World Series.
