Lauren Haeger chucked her glove into the air. She had just fired a 67-MPH rise ball to Kentucky’s Ansley Smith on an 0-2 count with two outs in the 7th inning with a 1-0 lead.
Smith checked her swing.
UF catcher Aubree Munro appealed down to the first base umpire — Smith went around.
Munro raced toward Haeger in the circle to celebrate with her and the rest of the team as the Florida softball team defeated Kentucky (32-26) 1-0 Sunday in the Gainesville Super Regional to send the Gators (55-6) to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to play in the NCAA Women’s College World Series.
The trip to the WCWS will mark the 7th time in school history and third straight year for the Gators.
“I’ve never been the winning pitcher in a game like that,” Haeger said. “It was exciting to have Aubree tackle me.”
Haeger tossed a complete-game shutout in the win, striking out five. The senior has now thrown each of Florida’s last 29 innings this postseason, allowing no earned runs during that span.
“My opinion today? She just solidified national player of the year,” coach Tim Walton said. “How could she not? 28 wins, home runs. We would not be as good as we are without her.”
Three innings went by before the lone run of the game was scored.
But in the fourth inning, Florida found a way to pull ahead.
Taylor Fuller fisted a single up the middle, and Kayli Kvistad followed by ripping a single over the first baseman’s head, putting runners on first and third.
After a pinch-hitting Chelsea Herndon struck out, Justine McLean chopped a ground ball to Kentucky shortstop Christian Stokes, who bobbled it, allowing Fuller to score from third.
Walton said McLean’s speed put pressure on Stokes to hurry the play.
“It’s not how far they go, it’s just a matter of getting it done,” Walton said. “We’re real proud of her.”
Haeger, who wasn’t as sharp in the circle as she was during Saturday’s shutout victory over UK, received some help from her defense in the third and fourth innings.
In the third, Kentucky’s Griffin Joiner sent a fly ball to right field that McLean tracked down while hitting the wall. McLean then threw out the runner at first for the double play to end the inning.
Munro showed off her reflexes in the fourth on a bunt that was popped up in front of home plate.
Munro sprung from her crouching position and slid on her knees to make the catch.
Then, without hesitation, Munro fired the ball to Kvistad at first for the inning-ending double play.
“They make these plays all the time, and I don’t think they get enough credit for them,” Haeger said. “Those are top 10 plays right there.”
Kentucky pitcher Kelsey Nunley held her own against Florida.
Nunley tossed all seven innings, allowing one earned run while striking out four batters.
“Florida’s a great hitting team, and to shut them down to just one run is a big deal,” Nunley said.
Ultimately, Haeger and the Gators were too much for the Wildcats to handle.
“Getting back to the World Series is a goal that we’ve always had,” Haeger said. “I’m just excited that I could be the one in the circle to do it.”
Florida will first play Tennessee in the WCWS on Thursday on ESPN. In their lone matchup this year, Tennessee knocked Florida out of the Southeastern Conference Tournament with a 2-1 win.
Follow Patrick Pinak on Twitter: @Pinakk12
UF players celebrate the final out of Sunday's 1-0 win against the Kentucky Wildcats during the 2015 NCAA Super Regionals at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
