Florida jumped out to an early lead Sunday afternoon and cruised past Georgia courtesy of Taylor Schwarz’s bat.
Schwartz picked up two RBI and knocked a triple as the No. 2 Gators (47-6, 16-5 Southeastern Conference) won the rubber match of their series against the Bulldogs (35-18, 12-9 SEC) 5-0 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
“We came in making a couple adjustments before an early batting practice,” Schwarz said. “I think Friday we were a little off-balance with [Georgia right-hander Chelsea Wilkinson’s] off-speed pitch, so we made sure in the cages to get our foot down. We came into this game a lot more confident because we knew her pitches.”
Unlike in its first two matchups this weekend versus UGA, UF took the first lead.
With bases loaded in the bottom of the first, Schwarz reached on an error by Anna Swafford as the ball rolled through the Georgia third baseman’s legs. The error scored freshman Kirsti Merritt and sophomore Lauren Haeger to give the Gators a 2-0 advantage.
Following two singles from Haeger and Horton in the third inning, Schwarz drove in both batters with a triple down the right-field line – only her second triple of the year – to increase UF’s advantage to 4-0 in the bottom of the third.
“Before the game, coach (Tim) Walton dared us to get jammed because we were so far ahead of this pitcher,” Schwarz said. “I moved up in the box and I’m like, ‘All right. I’m just going to try to get jammed. And I happened to hit the line, so that was big.”
After Georgia switched Wilkinson with right-hander Morgan Montemayor in the bottom of the fourth, Haeger notched a solo home run to give UF a 5-0 lead in the fifth. The homer is Haeger’s third in five games after tallying only five hits in 39 at-bats before April 20.
Junior pitcher Hannah Rogers allowed only two hits but walked seven batters during seven scoreless innings on the mound. She did not allow a Bulldog to reach third base until the fourth inning.
“I thought she did a really good job of utilizing her defense,” Walton said. “To keep Georgia from scoring runs and hitting home runs says a lot about our pitching staff and the plan they put together this weekend.”
Added Rogers: “I threw all my pitches today, and I made sure I executed them good. I made sure I used my defense. Just tried to get little ground balls and pop flies.”
Wilkinson, who fanned 14 batters on Friday during Florida’s 3-2 loss to Georgia, struck out five Sunday. She also gave up four runs and four hits in three innings.
Sunday was the final regular-season home contest this year for the Gators and the last for Ensley Gammel and Horton. Both seniors were honored prior to Saturday’s match.
UF will have four days off until it faces South Carolina in a three-game series next weekend in Columbia, S.C.
Taylor Schwarz prepares for the pitch during Florida’s 8-0 win against Arkansas on March 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
