GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After dispatching of UCF 5-0 in Saturday's second-round action of the NCAA Tournament, Florida senior catcher Aubree Munro was blindsided with a trivia question as she left the post-game interview tent.
When's the last time the Gators surrendered a run in a regional?
Munro stopped to think about it. Clearly, she was stumped, yet as one of just five seniors on the UF squad Munro was one of the few qualified for the question.
"I don't know."
When told the answer was May 18, 2013 against USF, Munro looked confused.
You won the game 11-1.
Then she looked perturbed.
"One stinkin' run," Munro said.
The same question was put to Gators coach Tim Walton, who also was stumped. When reminded of the answer, he nodded, but then was reminded of something else.
For what it's worth, that USF run was unearned.
Walton shook his head.
"Damn error."
Damn, these Gators, from the top down, are wired alike.
This may be a Florida softball season unlike past seasons, what with the team's collective struggles with the bat. But as long as the No. 1-ranked Gators (55-5) can spin masterpieces like the one-hit, 13-strikeout gem junior lefty Delanie Gourley fired at the Knights, they'll continue to enjoy runaway NCAA success as they have for two-plus postseasons now. UF basically has been Godzilla in regional play since 2013, what with 11 straight wins and nine by shutout, thanks to 63 2/3 consecutive innings without surrendering a run. Want to go back further? How 'bout and 74 1/3 straight without an earned run, dating to the 2012 season, a streak that dates to UF's last regional defeat.
Basically, seeing opponents cross the plate against Florida in regional play has become like seeing Bigfoot.
"We don't like it when teams score," Munro said.
Clearly.
Charting the Gators
Here's a look at UF's run of 63 2/3 innings -- which includes nine straight shutout wins -- without giving up a run in NCAA regional play.
--Chris Harry
| Year |
Opponents (scores) |
Innings |
Pitchers |
| 2013 |
USF (*11-1, 1-0) |
11 2/3 |
Hannah Rogers |
| 2014 |
Florida A&M (8-0), Stetson (14-0), UCF 7-0) |
18 |
Delanie Gourley, Hannah Rogers, Lauren Haeger |
| 2015 |
FAMU (6-0), Hofstra (7-0), Florida Atlantic (1-0) |
22 |
Aleshia Ocasio, Lauren Haeger |
| 2016 |
Alabama State (11-0), UCF (5-0) |
12 |
Aleshia Ocasio, Kelly Barnhill, Delanie Gourley |
* USF scored with two outs in the first inning of in the second-round winner's bracket game.
Against the Knights (37-21), Gourley allowed one measly hit in the fourth inning and walked a couple. UCF stranded just three runners for the game, with two coming in that fourth when a single, walk and wild pitch put runners on second and third, but Gourley fanned Kalyn Cenal to end the threat.
Offensively, UF got all the runs it needed when freshman Amanda Lorenz jacked a one-out solo homer off the "National Champions" sign in right center. Munro had an RBI single in the fourth to make the score 2-0 and another in Florida's three-run sixth that also included a run-scoring single from Taylore Fuller and sacrifice fly by Kelsey Stewart.
The day after collecting 12 hits in an 11-0 victory over Alabama State in their tournament opener, the Gators had eight more hits to go with eight walks against a solid pitcher in UCF's Shelby Turnier.
"The best way to describe our offense today -- grinders," Walton said. "Just grinding it out and getting it done. Good job of being disciplined and getting it done."
The way Gourley was throwing,with her wicked rise ball and change-up, plus painting the corners, the Knights weren't going to get much done. The 2-0 deficit was bad enough. The 5-0 hole late must have felt like 25-0 when they stepped in for their final turn at bat.
Gourley, who improved to 19-3 and dropped her ERA to 0.67 for the season, struck out the side in the seventh.
"Every pitcher on their team is fantastic," UCF coach Renee Luers-Gillspie said.
Been that way a while.
Case you hadn't heard, the Gators don't like it when teams score.
