The Weekend Look Back: SEC Tourney Titles In Tennis While Softball And Baseball Best Alabama
Monday, April 25, 2011 | General
A pair of SEC Tournament titles in tennis, a sweep of Alabama in baseball and a huge series win for softball over No. 3 Alabama highlighted a memorable weekend for Gator athletics.
Tennis
The men's and women's tennis teams took home the SEC Tournament titles this weekend with the men's squad defeating Kentucky, 4-0, at Linder Stadium and the women's team defeating host Tennessee, 4-0, as well. It was the third time both teams won the title in the same year ( joining 2000 and 2005).
For the men's squad it was their first SEC tourney title since 2005 and the Gators became the first team since Mississippi State in 1996 to win the event without a bye. The Gators opened the event with a 4-0 victory over Arkansas before beating Mississippi State 4-2 in the quarters, then No. 1 seed Tennessee 4-2 in the semis. The victory over Tennessee avenged a 7-0 defeat in Knoxville just two weeks earlier.
As GatorZone.com senior writer Scott Carter chronicles, for men's head coach Andy Jackson, his faith in his squad was rewarded with an SEC title.
WATCH the postmatch interview with head coach Andy Jackson
The women's squad took home its 17th SEC Tournament title in 24 years, sweeping through the field. The Gators opened with a 4-0 win over South Carolina in the quarters, swept Vanderbilt 4-0 in the semis and then finished off host Tennessee without a blemish.
WATCH the postmatch interview with head coach Roland Thornqvist
WATCH interviews with Allie Will, Olivia Janowicz, Alex Cercone and Joanna Mather
WATCH some of the highlights from the win and the postmatch ceremony
Softball
The softball team picked up a huge series win, taking two of three from No. 3/4 Alabama with a pair of walk-off victories on Saturday and Sunday.
After dropping the opener on Friday 5-0, the Gators responded in dramatic fashion on Saturday. Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Kelsey Bruder smashed a three-run walk-off homer to give the Gators a 6-5 victory. On Sunday it was Bruder who again provided walk-off drama, this time with an infield base hit with the bases loaded as the Gators took a 3-2 decision in nine innings.
With the win the Gators improved to 40-8 on the year and 15-7 in SEC play, as they've now won eight of their last nine in league action.
WATCH the video of Kelsey Bruder's walk-off HR on Saturday
WATCH Sunday's softball postgame report
Baseball
The baseball team completed an impressive sweep of Alabama over the weekend to put the Gators in a three-way tie at the top of the SEC standings with South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
The Gators opened the weekend with a 7-0 shutout victory as Hudson Randall improved to 7-1 on the year, once again using more precision than power to keep Alabama hitters off balance.
On Saturday Mike Zunino drove in four runs to key a 9-2 victory over the Tide. The Gators completed the sweep on Sunday behind seven strikeouts from Karsten Whitson, who improved to 5-0 on the year, helping Florida to a 2-1 win.
WATCH the Baseball Weekend Recap
The victory moved the Gators to 31-10 on the year and 14-4 in SEC play. The Gators are off mid-week before remaining home this weekend to take on Ole Miss for a three-game set at McKethan Stadium starting Friday night.
