Taylore Fuller must have remembered what she did on Feb. 8, 2014 as she stepped up to the plate.
On that day, she completed Florida’s 9-4 comeback win against the Michigan Wolverines with a two-run home run.
And on Sunday — one year later — Fuller hit a two run blast against USF to tie the game at four, sparking a comeback as the No. 1 Gators (5-0) defeated the Bulls 10-5 in the final game of the USF Softball Classic in Tampa.
UF went into the frame down 4-2 after USF scored four runs in the third inning, and chased starting pitcher Delanie Gourley, who struggled with her control.
Gourley walked three batters while hitting one in just 2.1 innings pitched.
Aleshia Ocasio came on in relief for Gourley and the freshman was impressive once again.
One day after winning her first career start and scoring the game winning run, Ocasio entered the game with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning and was able to hold her own.
She picked up her second win in as many days, as she pitched 4.2 innings while striking out six batters.
Coach Tim Walton was impressed with his freshman.
“We hadn’t had her in that kind of moment before, so it was nice for her to able to come in,” Walton said in a release. “I thought she pitched well. We made a couple nice plays that we weren’t able to finish. But overall it was good to see her in that kind of position.”
In the batter’s box for Florida, Kirsti Merritt had a day she’ll never forget.
The junior slugged three home runs and had seven RBIs in Florida’s two victories on Sunday — a 9-0 win against Jacksonville University and the comeback against USF.
“Today she had good counts to hit with in a lot of cases,” Walton said. “Overall, I think she swung at better pitches today then she did yesterday and maybe even Friday.”
After Kathlyn Medina put the Gators ahead with a bunt single and Kelsey Stewart reached on an error that scored two runs, Merritt put the game out of reach.
The Lake Panasoffkee, Florida, native hit her second three-run homer of the day to give UF a 10-4 lead.
Walton said the team has a never give up attitude, even when the outcome looks bleak.
“They’ve been doing that since I’ve been here,” Walton said. “It’s just what we do. It goes to the mentality of what we do in offseason training. If there are any outs left in the game, we’re going to fight to the end.”
Florida will have an opportunity to double up its win total against the Dolphins, when they travel to Jacksonville on Wednesday.
Follow Luis Torres on Twitter @LFTorresIII
Taylore Fuller bats during Florida's 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22, 2014 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
