In 123 at-bats, Katie Medina had never hit a home run.
The sophomore shortstop went all of 2012 without knocking a ball out of the park. Her freshman year, she only batted .241 with six extra-base hits.
But when Medina came up in the bottom of the second inning, she got ahold of a Molly Medeiros pitch and drilled it over the left-center field fence.
“It was awesome,” Medina said. “It was probably one of the greatest feelings I’ve had in a while. Words can’t even describe how it felt.”
The home run came immediately after center fielder Briana Little hit one out to nearly the same spot as Medina.
The three runs that came on those two home runs gave No. 5 Florida (14-0) all it needed in an 8-2 victory against Loyola Marymount (3-3).
Junior Hannah Rogers took the circle in the Gators’ first game of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.
Rogers struggled through her seven innings on Thursday. The junior right-hander gave up eight hits, walked four and struck out four.
Rogers escaped several jams with multiple runners on base, only surrendering two runs.
Florida benefitted from a stronger pitching performance in its second game on Thursday.
Sophomore Lauren Haeger started against Oklahoma State (5-5). She tossed a complete-game shutout, fanning eight batters while walking two.
“I was hitting my spots really well,” Haeger said. “I wasn’t trying too hard. Sometimes when I do bad, it’s because I’m trying too hard.”
Despite a better effort in the circle, Florida’s second game was much closer than the first.
The Gators had a chance to put a run on the board in the fourth inning after sophomore Bailey Castro singled and Little was hit by a pitch.
The two runners advanced when Stephanie Tofft grounded out, but freshman Taylore Fuller and sophomore Jessica Damico both struck out swinging.
In the next inning, second baseman Kelsey Stewart hit a 2-2 pitch to right center for a triple. But Kelsey Horton struck out swinging and Haeger flew out to center field, stranding a runner in scoring position for the second straight frame.
Florida finally broke through in the sixth inning.
The Gators loaded the bases for pinch hitter Ensley Gammel. She dropped down a bunt, and Castro was thrown out at home. When the catcher tried to double up Fuller at second base, she threw the ball away, leading to the game’s first run.
Taylor Schwarz added a run-scoring single later in the inning.
Haeger fanned two batters and forced a pop-up in the top of the seventh to secure the victory for Florida.
“We have a lot of heart,” Haeger said. “I can trust these girls and I know they’re going to do something insane and incredible and win the ball game.”
The Gators return to action in Palm Springs tomorrow against Syracuse (3-1) and No. 7 Missouri (5-0).
Sophomore shortstop Katie Medina bats during Florida’s 9-1 win against UNC Wilmington on Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. She hit her first career home run on Thursday.
