Despite recording only one hit against USF, Florida found a way to march on to the Super Regionals.
The No. 2 seed Gators (55-7) drew four walks and a hit-by-pitch to plate two runs in the fourth as they defeated the Bulls (45-16) 2-0 on Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium to win the Gainesville Regional.
“I honestly thought, ‘Man, if we get no-hit, this is the first time I can ever remember winning a game when you get no hits,’” coach Tim Walton said.
UF will host UAB in the Gainesville Super Regional on Saturday and Sunday. Alabama-Birmingham defeated UCLA in walk-off fashion 3-2 on Sunday in a 13-inning game to win the Louisville Regional.
Sunday’s matchup was a duel between aces. Junior right-hander Hannah Rogers and USF pitcher Sara Nevins retired a combined 18 of 19 batters during their first three innings.
In the fourth, freshman Kirsti Merritt drew a free pass and moved to second after junior Stephanie Tofft dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Nevins then intentionally walked sophomore Lauren Haeger, who knocked a three-run homer during Florida’s 11-1 victory against USF on Saturday.
After Nevins threw a wild pitch past catcher Lee Ann Spivey – advancing Merritt and Haeger a base – senior Kelsey Horton drew a walk to load the bases.
Freshman Taylor Schwarz walked in the next at-bat, scoring Merritt for the 1-0 lead. Then, Nevins hit freshman Taylore Fuller with a pitch to increase Florida’s advantage to two runs with two outs.
In a complete game Sunday afternoon, Rogers allowed three hits, struck out five batters and did not walk any batters. The Bulls never advanced past second base.
“Hannah and I had a conversation in the dugout [Saturday] about her being able to throw the ball a little more through the zone,” Walton said.
“I felt like she was trying to miss bats [Saturday], more so than she was [Sunday]. She was coming out and really throwing the ball – I don’t want to say harder – but it had a little more late break to it.”
Added Rogers: “You just have to go out there and keep competing because if you get down for one second, it’s only a two-run game and they could come back at any moment.”
After lasting only 1.1 innings against Florida on Saturday, Nevins pitched 5.2 hitless frames but was subbed out for Lindsey Richardson for the remainder of the sixth. Nevins returned for the seventh and allowed her only hit of the day to freshman Kelsey Stewart, who singled to left field.
The Gators advance to Super Regionals for the first time since 2011. USF eliminated fifth-seeded Florida in last year’s Gainesville Regional.
“With so many question marks coming into the season, so many new starters, this is one of the most gratifying feelings that I have had in a long time,” Walton said.
“To have a team so young, a team that has so much fun, a team that still goes about it the right way and does it the way I want it done. They still have fun. They play loose. They are clutch, athletic. They just do so many nice things.”
Contact Landon Watnick at lwatnick@alligator.org.
Shortstop Katie Medina throws out a USF runner of on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. UF defeated USF 2-0 Sunday to advance to the NCAA Super Regional.
Junior pitcher Hannah Rogers (13) celebrates with her teammates following Florida’s 2-0 win against South Florida on Sunday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
