Lauren Haeger is continuing to have the best start to a season that she can probably imagine.
Once again, Haeger was on her game in the pitcher’s circle and in the batter’s box as No. 1 Florida beat Fresno State 4-1 to cap off its California road trip.
Haeger was able to stymie the Bulldogs (15-6) for stretches of the game as she had four 1-2-3 innings, including a six pitch fourth inning.
She allowed six hits in her seven innings of work, striking out nine to bring her season total to 85.
With the win, Haeger is now 11-0 on the season while Florida extends its best start in program history.
Bailey Castro got things started for UF (27-0) as she hit a first inning home run for to give Florida an early 2-0 lead. It was the second consecutive game that UF started off the first inning with a two run home run, when Haeger did so against Oregon.
In the third inning, Haeger deposited her eighth home run of the season and the 61st of her career to give Florida a 3-0 advantage. She is now four away from tying Megan Bush’s program record for career home runs.
Haeger would then find herself in some trouble in the top of the sixth inning when Fresno State got runners on first and third with no outs.
Michelle Solomon hit a RBI double to cut Florida’s lead to 3-1, but bad base running by Malia Rivers would ensure the Bulldogs wouldn’t add anymore as she was thrown out at home.
After hitting Kierra Wills with a pitch, Haeger would bear down and get the final two outs of the inning stranding runners on first and third.
UF would add an insurance run in the bottom half of the frame when Kirsti Merritt hit a sacrifice bunt with the bases loaded to score Briana Little.
Haeger would finish the game by striking out the side.
Florida finished its California road trip with a 10-0 record including wins over four nationally ranked teams.
Follow Luis Torres on Twitter @LFTorresIII
Lauren Haeger rounds the bases after hitting a home run during Florida's 7-1 win against Kansas at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
