When Taylore Fuller arrived at Florida, the expectations were high.
Fuller joined UF as the No. 38 overall player and No. 6 catcher in the Class of 2012, according to ESPN. At Chiefland High, Fuller posted a .778 batting average and recorded 14 home runs, nine doubles, six triples and 33 RBI during her senior year.
The Trenton native was named the 2012 Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A Player of the Year, among other accolades.
Through her first 59 games as a Gator, Fuller did not meet the sky-high expectations as a hitter. As of May 11, Fuller was batting .175 at the plate and had tallied 16 hits – three doubles, and two home runs for 14 RBI.
But during last weekend’s Gainesville Regional, Fuller erupted.
The freshman doubled her home-run total for the year, knocking both of her solo blasts during Florida’s first two days of action against Hampton and USF. Fuller went 3 of 6 with three RBI and two walks for the weekend.
“I really had nothing to lose,” Fuller said.
In the fifth inning against Hampton on Friday, Fuller homered to left field, increasing Florida’s advantage to 6-1 and putting the contest out of reach for the Pirates.
Against USF ace Sara Nevins on Saturday, Fuller led off the second with a solo homer to center. It was only Nevins’ sixth allowed this year.
The Gators went on to score four more runs in the inning for an 8-1 lead.
Facing Bulls reliever Sam Greiner in the third, Fuller began the inning with a double that bounced off the left-center field fence.
“I’ve been seeing the ball really well,” Fuller said. “My timing is finally coming together for me. But just being able to produce for my team finally feels really good. They all get really excited for me.”
Fuller was also hit by a Nevins pitch with the bases loaded on Sunday, scoring a run to give UF a 2-0 lead.
With a Super Regional matchup looming against Alabama-Birmingham (40-17) on Saturday at 1 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, Fuller hopes to continue her recent hitting success.
She is one of 13 players for No. 2 seed Florida (55-7) who have never competed in a Super Regional.
“We’re playing her for those moments,” coach Tim Walton said. “We want more home runs and doubles from her ... She can put a little bit of sock … at the end of the lineup."
Contact Landon Watnick at lwatnick@alligator.org.
Taylore Fuller fist-bumps coach Tim Walton as she rounds third base after hitting a home run on May 18 against USF.
