The Gators began the 2013 season with three top-15 teams on the schedule at the Kajikawa Classic. Florida traveled to Tempe, Ariz., and left undefeated.
“It’s huge for us,” junior Hannah Rogers said. “I feel like our team knows now that they can beat top schools like that.”
No. 14 Florida (5-0) opened its season against Creighton (2-3) Friday afternoon. The bats exploded, and the Gators run-ruled the Bluejays 13-3 in five innings.
Freshman second baseman Kelsey Stewart started the offensive barrage, leading off the game with a triple and hitting a home run in the fourth inning.
But in the fifth, the offense multiplied, scoring eight runs, four of which came on a Kirsti Merritt grand slam.
But later that night, offense was at a premium.
Rogers took the mound for the first time this season against No. 5 Oregon (4-2) and, for the first three innings, she and Ducks hurler Jessica Moore kept the game scoreless. But in the bottom of the fourth, the Gators pushed across a run when Ensley Gammel drove in freshman Taylore Fuller on a groundout.
Rogers locked down the final three innings, and Florida finished the first day undefeated.
“It’s always better to pitch with runs on the board,” Rogers said. “And also having an awesome defense behind me, knowing that if I do get a ground ball, that they’re going to get the out.”
On Saturday, UF faced Cal State Northridge (1-4) and No. 3 California (2-2).
Sophomore Alyssa Bache got the start against Cal State Northridge. She had a solid outing, holding the Matadors scoreless despite walking five batters.
Freshmen again led the Florida offense, with Stewart and Merritt delivering two hits each, and Fuller knocking in two runs with a double and a sacrifice fly as the Gators cruised to a 7-0 victory.
“I just went in … trying to get my job done,” Stewart said. “Never did I think it would have been like that.”
The Gators had a tougher time against a strong Golden Bears team.
Florida took an early lead on RBI singles by sophomore Lauren Haeger and junior transfer Stephanie Tofft. Cal battled back in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs, but UF took the lead for the final time in the fifth inning, scoring three times en route to a 7-4 win.
Florida’s final opponent in the Classic was No. 13 Arizona (3-2). Much like the season opener, the Gators’ offense was explosive.
UF opened the game with five runs in the top of the first inning. The Gators then notched two in the third and another run in the fifth. Still, Florida had one more outburst left.
In the top of the seventh, with the Gators leading 8-3, sophomore Bailey Castro came in to pinch hit for Haeger with the bases loaded. She capped a six-run inning and the tournament with a grand slam.
“The sky’s the limit with this team,” coach Tim Walton said. “I think we’re good right now, and we’re only going to continue to get better.”
Bailey Castro bats during an exhibition against Santa Fe on Nov. 7, 2012, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Castro struck out in a key spot in Florida's 7-3 win against Florida State on Wednesday.
