After taking down the No. 6 team in the nation, Stacey Nelson felt like she was just getting started.
With Nelson in the circle, the No. 2 UF softball team (13-2) held Michigan (12-4) scoreless on three hits while putting 4 quick runs on the board Wednesday afternoon in Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Nelson (6-2) struck out nine batters on the day, but the senior ace felt like she could have kept pitching for quite some time after the final out.
"I had an abnormal amount of energy before the game today, so I probably could have pitched four games," Nelson said.
Nelson kept the Wolverines, who averaged nearly 4.5 runs per game before Wednesday, off the scoreboard in seven innings of work, but the Gators removed some of the pressure from Nelson early in the game by putting runs on the board.
Tiffany DeFelice, who entered the game with only one RBI this season, drove in 2 runs with two outs in the bottom of the first on a double that flew just over the shortstop's glove into left field.
"It felt good because I've been struggling a little bit lately," DeFelice said. "It felt kind of good to actually get my job done."
UF coach Tim Walton said he is confident in the sophomore slugger to perform in the fifth spot in the order despite her inconsistent play at the plate early in the season.
"If we're going to win a championship, it's going to be with Tiffany DeFelice in the five hole," Walton said. "I think that's important for me to maintain that consistency. She's such a great hitter that I really want to get her going."
After DeFelice drove in the Gators' first 2 runs in the first inning, center fielder Kim Waleszonia followed suit in the second.
Michigan replaced starting pitcher Nikki Nemitz (7-2) with Jordan Taylor after just 1 1/3 innings, but Waleszonia singled up the middle to send home 2 more runs, putting UF up 4-0 after two innings.
After giving up 2 quick runs, Taylor gave up no runs and only allowed one hit the rest of the game, but Michigan was not able to produce at the plate against Nelson. Even when the Wolverines threatened to score in the sixth inning, the Gators took care of business in the field.
With Michigan's Teddi Ewing in scoring position, Molly Bausher singled to right field, but Kelsey Bruder fired the ball in to catcher Kristina Hilberth, ending the inning and preserving the shutout.
"I tried to tell myself before that batter came up, 'Don't let them score,' and I let them get a hit," Nelson said. "So when your teammate can pick you up like that, it really feels good as a pitcher."
By taking down a highly ranked opponent with relative ease, the Gators removed some of the lingering doubts about the team after it fell to No. 3 Washington on Friday in Palm Springs, Calif.
"After all the ups and downs that we faced in California, to be able to come out and still prove that we still can win was good," Nelson said.
