The
third-ranked Florida softball squad kicked off its last non-conference series
of the 2012 season Friday with a doubleheader sweep over FIU, downing the
Panthers 7-4 and 9-0 (5) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Freshman Briana
Little (Middleburg, Fla.) ripped her first career homer, a three-run blast
in game one, to help lead UF’s charge offensively, while freshman Sami Fagan
(Dunnellon, Fla.) led the Orange and Blue at the plate Friday with a
team-high four hits and four RBI.
Florida
improved its record to 40-5 overall this season, aided by 13 total hits –
including three homers and a triple – while FIU moved to 24-22 following
Friday’s twin bill. The Gators and Panthers will meet for the series finale
Saturday, with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. from KSP Stadium.
Sophomore
shortstop Cheyenne Coyle (West Hills, Calif.) dropped her 10th bomb of
the season over the right-center fence in the nightcap, accounting for UF’s second-round
tripper off the day, while freshman Lauren Haeger (Peoria, Ariz.), who
also tossed game two for the Orange and Blue, added the Gators’ third bomb of
the doubleheader with a two-run success to enforce the eight-run rule in the
bottom of the fifth for UF’s 16th run-rule win and 19th shutout of the season. Coyle
led Florida with a .600 batting clip (3-for-5) through Friday’s two games,
while S. Fagan wasn’t far behind with a .571 average (4-for-7).
Sophomore
ace Hannah Rogers (Lake Wales, Fla.) tossed the first game of the twin
bill, while freshman righty Alyssa Bache (Clearwater, Fla.) came on in
the fifth for her second save of the season. Rogers earned the win to improve
to 23-3 overall on the season after working the first 4.0, fanning four,
walking two and giving up four hits and runs to the Panthers. Bache put in three
innings of scoreless relief, succumbing to four FIU hits, while retiring two
batters by strikeout.
Haeger
(12-2) earned the start in the nightcap, rallying for a three-hit shutout, her fourth
complete-game shutout of the season, to add her 12th victory in the circle in
2012. The righty walked just one and retired four by strikeout
The
Gators fought off a pesky Panther offense that out-hit them 9-7 in the first of
Friday’s games, but Florida was patient at the plate, collectively drawing
eight walks, UF’s most since nine March 16 versus South Carolina. Freshman Katie
Medina (Downey, Calif.) led the charge with three free passes in game one.
UF then worked game two starter Mariah Dawson for seven walks, reaching base on
balls 15 times in the two-game outing.
