With a lineup as strong as Florida’s, it was only a matter of time before things started to click.
After a rocky start to Game 2, the No. 6 Gators (20-3, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) showed their toughness, battling back from late deficits of 4-2 to earn a 5-4 victory and a doubleheader sweep of Auburn (15-9, 2-3 SEC).
Junior Kelsey Bruder led the way for UF, belting a home run in both games and adding a walk-off double in the seventh.
“This game is really all about momentum, so we knew that we had a shot if we could do something to get the momentum back,” Bruder said.
Over the first 4.2 innings of the nightcap, Tigers ace Anna Thompson held the Gators to no hits and just one walk.
But from there, six of the next seven Gators reached base, including back-to-back home runs from Bruder and Brittany Schutte to start the sixth, and UF tied the game up at four.
After Stephanie Brombacher came in to pitch a scoreless top of the seventh, junior Aja Paculba led off the bottom half of the inning with a double. Auburn pitcher Angel Bunner then retired the next two batters before Bruder stepped to the plate and delivered the game-ending blow.
“That’s just hard work and good teamwork by everybody,” Bruder said.
“Everybody pulled through, we had good hits all across the board.”
The Gators got the day started with a 7-0 win.
Brombacher tossed a complete-game shut out in Game 1, and did not allow a hit until Lindsey Harrelson poked a single to left with two outs in the fifth.
The junior ace was dominant in the circle, allowing only four hits on the afternoon.
Hitters were having difficultly making contact, as only twice were they able to put a ball in fair territory over the first four innings, with one of those coming off a bunt.
Brombacher also struck out 11 Tigers in the game, including a pair in the final frame.
