Before the seventh inning of Sunday’s game against Mississippi State, the Gators looked like they were going to fly home from Starkville on the brooms they were going to sweep the Bulldogs with.
But like the Wicked Witch of the West, they melted.
Freshman Aleshia Ocasio, who started the game, struck out 10 and didn’t allow a run to cross through six innings before surrendering five runs on four singles and a three-run walk-off home run in the final frame of the 5-3 Florida loss.
Though coach Tim Walton had both Lauren Haeger and Delanie Gourley ready in the bullpen, he left Ocasio out there because she looked good all game and his relief pitching has been poor of late.
"It’s hard to even really go away from her," Walton said. "At that point in time, she had 10 strikeouts and I think we had two outs and two strikes three or four different times. To be honest with you, it didn’t really cross my mind that much."
Ocasio has allowed six home runs this season, which leads the staff.
Four of her allowed homers have come in the seventh inning — including a go-ahead grand slam to LSU in a 14-10 loss on March 14 and the walk-off homer to Mississippi State.
Florida offense lagging in clutch situations
In Sunday’s loss, Florida batters left 11 runners on base and had three two-out bases-loaded opportunities where they failed to score.
Walton said it was tough seeing his offense not capitalizing on those situations.
"It’s very frustrating and that’s the key," Walton said. "Getting a two-out RBI is the key to winning games."
The Gators’ .149 average with runners in scoring position and .202 average with runners on base in Southeastern Conference games is the lowest and third lowest in the conference, respectively.
Junior Kirsti Merritt said she and the batters need to work on hitting more line drives and hard ground balls in situations with runners on base.
"Personally, instead of trying to go for the long ball and hitting what we call a five-run home run," she said, "maybe just going for a base hit."
Haeger could be taken in draft
Haeger could be playing past this year if she’s selected in tonight’s National Pro Fastpitch draft. Walton said he’s sure she’ll be drafted and that she wants to play in the NPF.
"She pitches and hits, and she’s gonna bring great value to anybody that drafts her," he said.
The draft will be held in Nashville and starts at 6:30 p.m.
Follow Patrick Pinak on Twitter @Pinakk12
Aleshia Ocasio pitches during Florida's 4-1 win against Illinois State on Feb. 21 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
