BOX SCORE
Baton Rouge, La. – The No. 2-ranked University of Florida softball team defeated South Carolina, 10-1 (5 innings), on Thursday at Tiger Park in a quarterfinal matchup in the SEC Tournament. Junior infielder Kelsey Stewart had four hits on the day, bringing her career total to 280 to set the Florida program record. Senior right-hander Lauren Haeger improved to 24-0 with four shutout innings, while freshman Aleshia Ocasio worked the fifth to seal the victory.
South Carolina was retired in the first before a lengthy rain delay. Florida jumped out to a 3-0 lead when play resumed as the Gators manufactured three runs on just one hit in the bottom of the inning. Stewartled off with triple to right. Nicole DeWitt was hit by a pitch and Kirsti Merritt walked to load the bases for Haeger. The SEC Pitcher of the Year reached on an error as Stewart scored, and then Bailey Castro drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home DeWitt. Janell Wheaton completed the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly to center that brought in Merritt.
The Orange and Blue extended their advantage to five in the second on Merritt's run-scoring bunt single that plated Stewart and a double-steal that brought home DeWitt. Justine McLean beat out a one-out infield single in the third, advancing on hits by Stewart and DeWitt and then scoring on Merritt's sac fly.
Castro walked to lead off the fourth for Florida. Pinch-runner Jessica Damico advanced to third on Taylor Schwarz's pinch-hit double, and scored on Wheaton's second sac fly. Kvistad followed her classmate with a deep fly to center that nearly left the field to bring in Schwarz for UF's eighth run. McLean notched another infield hit with one out to set up a two-run home run for Stewart to center field that broke a tie with Aja Paculba (279, 2008-11) for the Florida career record..
The Gamecocks cut the margin to 10-1 with a solo home run to lead off the fifth, producing the final result in the UF win.
Florida received the SEC Championship trophy before the game. (Photo: Kyle Zedaker)
STARS OF THE GAME
- Kelsey Stewart: The SEC Player of the Year shined on the conference's biggest stage, knocking four hits (including two for extra bases) and scoring three times.
- Lauren Haeger: The SEC Pitcher of the Year drove in a run to support her own cause, and worked four scoreless innings with just two hits allowed.
- Nicole DeWitt: Florida's SEC All-Freshman outfielder had a hit and scored twice in her postseason debut.
NOTABLES
- The Gators received the SEC championship trophy before the game after they won the regular-season title on Sunday.
- Florida reached the 50-win mark for the third straight season and the seventh time in program history.
- Haeger's 24-decision win streak to open the season is the second-longest such run in league history (Traina, UA – 26-0, 2012).
- The Orange and Blue now are 23-24 all-time in the SEC Tournament.
- Stewart's triple to lead off the bottom of the first was the 25th of her career, extending her school record.
- The junior's three-base hit was her ninth of the season, one shy of her own single-season Gator record (10, 2013).
- The Kansas native's homer was her second of the year (last: 3/28 at Mississippi State).
- Stewart extended her career-best hit streak to 22 games.
- The 2014 All-American has all three of UF's four-hit games this year (last: 4/24 vs. Texas A&M).
- Florida's leadoff hitter posted her team-best fifth three-hit game this year (last: 4/26 vs. Texas A&M).
- DeWitt had her 12th multi-hit game; the SEC All-Freshman Team selection has nine such contests in 15 games dating back to April 8.
- Schwarz had her fourth two-base hit of the year (last: Feb. 22 vs. Mercer, Game 1).
- The game was delayed approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes after the top of the first inning due to lightning and rain.
UP NEXT
Florida will face Tennessee in the SEC Tournament semifinals on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET. ESPNU will televise the contest. Florida Sports Talk will have the radio broadcast with Adam Schick (play-by-play) and former Gator All-American Megan Bush (analysis) on the call. In addition, a live stats link will be available on the schedule page on GatorZone.com.
WALTON'S WORDS
On Thursday's win:
“I thought that defensively we did a good job. Offensively, we took advantage of our opportunities and we did a good job of being patient and taking extra bases. But we've got to swing the bat better tomorrow.”
On the Gators' run production against the Gamecocks:
“We took what was there for us. We had a couple nice bunt base-hits, stolen bases and sac flies to manufacture runs. We hit a couple balls hard too, none bigger than Kelsey Stewart's triple and home run.”
On Tennessee:
“They're a very athletic team, a very powerful team. They have a nice pitching staff using all their kids. I see a lot of what we do on offense, except they hit more home runs. They're very athletic.”
— Florida Head Coach Tim Walton
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