Tim Walton knew a repeat wasn’t going to be easy.
"Coming off a national championship, the target’s on your back," he said on May 20, days before NCAA Super Regionals. "It’s easy to go through and think, ‘oh hey, we’re gonna do it again,’ and I don’t think we’ve prepared that way."
Walton’s preparation worked, as No. 1 seed Florida (60-7) defeated third-seeded Michigan (60-8) 4-1 on Wednesday to clinch UF’s second national championship in two years.
"I don’t even know what to think right now, I’m just so happy," Lauren Haeger said. "I’m so proud of my teammates and how hard we worked. I’m so thankful to have coach Walton behind us that whole time."
Florida became just the third school in history to win back-to-back titles (Arizona – three times, UCLA – four times) since the NCAA Women’s College World Series’ inception in 1982.
Walton entrusted the biggest game of the season to his ace – Lauren Haeger. The Peoria, Arizona, native didn’t disappoint.
Haeger tossed seven innings, allowing one earned run while striking out five in the win. The senior didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning.
"She’s the National Player of the Year," Walton said. "She’s the best, and now she’s a national champion as well. [I’m] really proud of her."
Florida gained a mass of momentum in the first inning, scoring three runs.
Kelsey Stewart was drilled in the kneecap to lead off the inning, and Nicole DeWitt laid down a bunt. Michigan went to second on the play, but Stewart was safe.
Then, Haeger flared a clutch RBI single up the middle to take a 1-0 lead. Haeger finished the WCWS 5-for-7 with four RBIs and was named the WCWS Most Outstanding Player.
Two batters later, junior Taylor Schwarz unleashed a single into shallow left field that scored DeWitt and Haeger, pushing the lead to 3-0. The two RBI were just Schwarz’s 13th and 14th of the season.
The Gators tacked on a run in the second inning as well.
Sophomore Justine McLean chopped a ground ball to the UM third baseman Lindsay Montemarano who overthrew the first baseman, allowing McLean to reach second.
One batter later, Stewart laced a double to left to plate McLean and bring Florida’s lead to 4-0.
Michigan finally put a run up on the board in the fifth inning.
After two one-out singles, Sierra Romero sat on a changeup and shot back up the middle to score a run and cut Florida’s lead to 4-1.
But the Wolverines couldn’t muster any more runs the rest of the game, as Haeger worked a scoreless sixth and seventh innings.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Haeger induced Kelly Christner into the game-ending groundout to Schwarz at first base.
"It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me right now," Haeger said.
Florida's Lauren Haeger pitches against Michigan in the first inning of the final game in the NCAA softball Women's College World Series, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Oklahoma City.
The Gators began their championship season with 28 straight wins, extending the school record they set this year when they earned their 25th win against Arizona on March 6.
Florida’s win streak came to a screeching halt in a home series against LSU. The Tigers took the last two games of the series on March 14 and March 15, serving Florida its first two losses of the year.
"We’re a good team and it’s probably good for us to have that experience early on in the season," catcher Aubree Munro said the following week. "It’s something better to experience now than later in postseason, and now we know how to deal with it."
Following the LSU series, Florida went 21-2 in its next 23 games and won every remaining Southeastern Conference series, including sweeps of South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia and Texas A&M.
April was particularly kind to the Gators, as they finished a perfect 15-0 in the month.
For the second year in a row, Florida failed to win the SEC Tournament after Tennessee defeated them 2-1 on May 8.
Afterward, Walton said he didn’t think the loss was going to fuel his team in the postseason.
"We weren’t trying to lose, we played hard, but I don’t know that they were motivated the same as they get motivated for the regionals," Walton said on May 13. "I think it’s a totally separate entity."
Walton was right.
Florida breezed through regional and super regional play, going 5-0 while outscoring their opponents 22-0.
In those five games, Haeger went 4-0, tossing four complete-game shutouts. The senior allowed zero runs in that span and struck out 24 through 29 innings.
"When a pitcher gets on fire, just stay out of her way," Walton said after UF defeated Kentucky to advance to the WCWS. "Lauren’s on fire. She’s pitched very well this whole entire postseason."
In the WCWS, Florida won three straight games to reach the Championship Series. The Gators won the first game of the series against Michigan 3-2 on June 1 before dropping game two 1-0 the next day and clinching the title in game three on Wednesday night.
Florida will take a big hit following the national championship, as USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Haeger graduated and was drafted by the Dallas Charge to play professional softball in the National Pro Fastpitch league.
Returning is second baseman Kelsey Stewart, who holds a myriad of UF records, including career hits, batting average, triples and stolen bases.
Freshman Aleshia Ocasio, who was an NFCA Third-Team All-American and went 18-3 with a 2.01 ERA, will also return likely as the ace of the staff in 2016.
Despite the hole the Haeger will leave, Florida has the talent to make a run for a third title in 2016. But right now, the Gators are savoring the high they’re on after successfully defending their title.
"I honestly can’t even fathom it right now," Stewart said. "We keep going up to each other and we’re like, ‘what did we just do?’"
A television broadcast contributed to this report.
Follow Patrick Pinak on Twitter @Pinakk12.
Florida pitcher Lauren Haeger, right, celebrates with catcher Aubree Munro at the end of the final game against Michigan in the NCAA softball Women's College World Series, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Oklahoma City. Florida won 4-1.
