The Gators emptied the dugout in its second NCAA Regional matchup on Saturday.
Behind 17 hits from 12 different batters, No. 5 seed Florida (47-11) thumped Stetson (39-13) 14-0 in six innings at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
“That’s pretty unique, but also special as a coach because it’s really hard to do that,” coach Tim Walton said. “It’s hard to get everybody a chance and opportunity to play especially in these kind of games.”
Right-hander Hannah Rogers pitched the complete-game, four-hit shutout to win her 24th game of the season and drop her ERA to 1.78 on the season. The Lake Wales senior fanned four batters while walking just one.
“I think I always go out there with a lot of energy and focus,” Rogers said. “I’m not trying to change anything. I’m just doing what I do out there.”
Added Walton: “There’s a lot of value in how well she’s able to step up for us whether we’re scoring runs for her or not. … She makes great defensive plays as well and that helps her get those shutouts.”
As a team, Florida batted .515 on Saturday compared to Stetson’s .190 clip at the plate.
“Our team has just been bringing a lot of energy,” Rogers said. “You can just tell right from the beginning of the game. Since postseason everybody has just been wanting to play and be out there and just having good at bats.”
The Gators opened up the scoring in the first inning when right fielder Bailey Castro was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. UF tacked on a second run one inning later on a Kelsey Stewart groundout that scored Aubree Munro from third base.
“Two is always the number for me,” Walton said. “If we can get from one to two, it’s good because one pitch now doesn’t beat you.”
Florida then brought its lead to 6-0 in the third with an RBI single by Taylor Schwarz, a two-RBI triple by Kelsey Stewart and a second RBI single by Stephanie Tofft.
Stewart’s triple was her second in as many games and her sixth of the season. Through her first two seasons at UF, the Wichita, Kan., native now has 16 triples in her career — one shy of the school record of 17 set by Kim Waleszonia from 2006-2009.
“My job is to get a base hit, score somebody, do the important play,” said Stewart, who finished the game with a single-game career high 4 RBIs. “I wasn’t trying to get a triple but it just happened that she threw me an inside pitch. And if Aubree (Munro) was going, I definitely was going. So the whole time I was just watching Aubree to see if coach was sending her.”
The Gators added one more run in the fifth inning on a Stewart single that scored Taylore Fuller.
But Florida exploded in the sixth inning, scoring seven runs in what would be the final frame of the game. Once UF extended its lead to 10, Walton used three consecutive pinch hitters — Chelsea Herndon, Jessica Damico and Francesca Martinez, all of whom reached base. Lauren Haeger then sent them all home by hitting a grand slam to right-center field for her team-leading 18th home run of the season. The Peoria, Ariz., native now has a team-best 61 RBIs on the year and now has career-best marks in batting average (.325) and slugging (.675).
With its second win in as many games, UF will play the winner of Stetson and UCF on Sunday to determine the winner of the Gainesville Regional.
Even though the Gators outscored their opponents 22-0 so far in the NCAA Tournament, Florida is taking its wins with a grain of salt.
“I think you don’t put too much stock into it,” Stewart said. “Knowing that you can get a hit against both teams is nice but I think it’s a new game. They have seen us now so they’re going to throw different pitches. I think you just have to re-focus now and get ready for the next game.”
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Hannah Rogers pitches during UF's 17-1 win against USF on April 23 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers was named the 2014 Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year and finished her senior season with a 30-8 record and a 1.60 ERA.
