They were on a softball field, but the Gators were playing Bache-ball.
Freshman pitcher Alyssa Bache started her first collegiate game Saturday against Michigan State without any blemishes, throwing 4.1 innings of perfect softball in an 11-1 win. She was only two outs away from a flawless performance when she gave up a run on two hits. Despite losing the perfect game, Bache proved that she belongs on an elite pitching staff.
“She’s a freshman, [but] she’ll get her opportunities,” coach Tim Walton said. “That’s one thing we’ve been able to do here. If a kid is worthy of playing, they will play. I think she got what she earned today, getting out there and getting a chance to show what she can do.”
Bache’s lone appearance before Saturday was tossing one inning of relief in the first game of the season against Long Island. Walton has kept her on the bench, letting sophomore Hannah Rogers and fellow freshman Lauren Haeger take the work load.
However, Bache received her chance today against a one-win Spartans team.
“I didn’t feel nervous,” Bache said. “I loved the crowd. It made me feel good to see so many people show up.”
The East Lake High product didn’t even know she would be starting her first game in front of a packed crowd until she stepped onto the field. But she was more than eager to take to the circle and show the home fans what she can bring to an already talented pitching staff.
Junior Brittany Schutte, who caught Bache, was encouraged by the fact that the team now has three quality starters in the circle.
“It was good to see her out on the mound and know that we have just one more pitcher in our lineup,” Schutte said. “Her ball tends to move a little bit more than others. When you come to college, if your ball moves more then that’s when you have total success. It doesn’t matter if you throw really hard, but if your ball can move then you will be successful.”
Although Walton said Bache was coming off an undisclosed injury, she seemed to have her stuff today. It took until the fifth and final inning for MSU to break into the hit column. And though Bache gave up her perfect game and, subsequently, her no-hitter, she was happy to get the victory and secure Florida's 700th win in school history.
However, Bache did add that she was disappointed about one thing after the game.
“We have this thing if we have a shutout,” Bache said. “If nobody scores then we get donuts so – yeah,” she added with smile.
“It’s nice to have players and teams that have some fun within the game,” Walton said. “So whatever they have, [if] they can throw a shutout in every game of the season they can have donuts all year long, I don’t care.”
Sophomore Alyssa Bache threw a complete game shutout against Savannah State on Saturday.
