Lugo, Gators Get Job Done

Hannah Adams, right, chipped in an RBI sac fly to provide Gators starter Natalie Lugo with an early cushion in Wednesday's victory over North Florida. (Photo: Adler Garfield/UAA Communications)

Thursday, February 14, 2019 | Softball

By: Ethan Hughes, FloridaGators.com Intern

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tuesday was a historic day for the Gators softball program. It opened the newly renovated Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and an exhibition game against the Japanese national team.

As might be expected when facing the 2018 Women's Softball World Championship runner-up, UF was beaten soundly. Sophomore pitcher Natalie Lugo struggled more than perhaps any other Gator, giving up four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings.

On Wednesday, Lugo bounced back in a big way in No. 4 Florida's 3-1 defeat of North Florida (0-3). She pitched a season-high six innings and conceded just one run on two hits. She struck out five and walked just one.

"[Japan is] one of the top-2 teams in the world, so can't get too beat up about that, but just knowing that I could come out here and trust my stuff and just trust my defense and let them work behind me as well," Lugo said.

She became the first winning Gators pitcher in the new stadium.

"That's really cool to think about," she said.

Lugo (2-0) retired the first four Osprey batters before surrendering a single to Dominica Cocuzza with one out in the second inning. The next time an Osprey reached base came with one out in the sixth, a run of 12 consecutive batters retired.

The streak started with a stellar defensive play by Lugo. Ashley Goebel hit a hard chopper back to the circle. Lugo fielded it and fired to shortstop Sophia Reynoso for the force out at second. If not for first baseman Jordan Matthews' foot coming off first base, it would've been a double play.

"I thought her changeup really kept the other team off balance," junior catcher Kendyl Lindaman said. "They got a few hits every now and then, but she has a great changeup and she's good at going in and out on them. All-around great pitcher."

After a walk and a stolen base, UNF finally got on the board with two outs in the sixth with an RBI single by Katelin Davis. Lugo got the next batter to ground out to avoid further damage.

Senior ace Kelly Barnhill replaced Lugo in the seventh inning and struck out the side to record her second save of the year. Hannah Adams (1 RBI), Lindaman (2-for-3, 1 RBI), Alex Voss (RBI double) and Hannah Sipos (2-for-2) provided just enough offense for the Gators (6-0).

Head coach Tim Walton said his decision to start Lugo had nothing to do with her struggles against Japan. The talent gap between the two teams was too large to make any changes or draw any conclusions.

"It was nice for me to be able to get Natalie the ball a lot longer today than she's had," he said. "Typically, we pull her out in the fourth inning, the third inning, whatever, but really wanted to extend her innings today and give her a chance to go deep in the game."

Lugo arrived at UF in the fall of 2017 as one of the top recruits in the country out of South Hills (Calif.) High School. She appeared in 13 games as a freshman (all but three out of the bullpen) and struck out 39 batters in 32 innings. She was 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA. She was part of the second combined perfect game in school history against Hampton, along with Aleshia Ocasio.

In her four appearances that have counted this season, she's thrown 14 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs on five hits, good for a 0.95 ERA.

Her production will play a huge factor in how far Florida goes in the postseason in 2019. UF has one bona fide ace in Barnhill, a two-time first-team All-American. However, Walton's best teams have had at least two pitchers who could be trusted in big moments and big games, such as Stacey Nelson and Stephanie Brombacher in 2008-09, Hannah Rogers and Lauren Haeger in 2014, Haeger and Delanie Gourley in 2015 and Barnhill and Ocasio last season.

For the first time in a while, the Gators entered the season with uncertainty in the circle, albeit a lot of talent. In addition to Lugo, Walton has highly regarded freshmen Elizabeth Hightower and Danni Farley and junior Katie Chronister to choose from.

Because he doesn't know what kind of production to expect from his young pitchers, Walton has opted to play a more offensive lineup when they are starting, sacrificing a bit of defense. Ideally, Lugo continues to progress and allows him to play his more defense-oriented lineup most of the time.

"I've been happy with Natalie," Walton said. "She's done a really good job to start the season. Elizabeth Hightower's shown me here the last two games that she's going to do well as well. I think everybody in the locker room's hoping that Danni Farley will get the ball soon so she can get back out there and get her confidence. That's the one person that we really need because she's had a really good fall for us. We were counting on her to be a big part of this pitching lineup and still are. We're still early."

It was just one early season game against a mid-major opponent, but Wednesday was a step forward for Lugo and the Gators.

"I think throughout the fall and January and last weekend at USF, compared to last year, I think confidence has just gone up a lot, so it feels good to start season," Lugo said.