Whether at the plate or behind it, Kristina Hilberth made the big plays her team needed Wednesday.
The senior catcher had three RBIs during a 4-for-6 day at the plate in No. 1 UF's doubleheader sweep of Florida International at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. She also snagged two foul balls, including a game-ending sliding grab with the tying run on third in UF's 3-2 victory in Game 1.
"If I gave such a thing as a game ball, it would've went to Kristina Hilberth," UF coach Tim Walton said. "She was electric, doing things you don't even notice. She had a really, really, really good game."
The Gators (29-2, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) scored 3 runs in the second inning of their first game against the Golden Panthers (16-17) despite being outhit seven to four. UF improved on its Game 1 struggles with a 5-0 win in the second game of the day. The Gators put 4 quick runs on the board and nearly tripled their hit total from the previous contest with 11.
The Golden Panthers came out swinging Wednesday afternoon. Fresh off her first career no-hitter, Stacey Nelson (15-2, 0.38 ERA) struggled in the circle. Florida International's seven hits were the most an opponent has had against Nelson all season.
"Stacey was probably as bad as she's been all year," Walton said. "She was good, but for her standards, she wasn't nearly as good as she needs to be."
After coming out strong at the plate in Game 1, Stephanie Brombacher (14-0, 0.72 ERA) held the Golden Panthers to just four hits and struck out 10 batters in seven innings in the second game.
"Me and Stacey talked a little bit after, and I knew that the top of the lineup was really aggressive. So I knew I could throw the ball a little more off the plate, and I knew that they were going to chase it," Brombacher said.
The closest the Golden Panthers came to scoring a run against Brombacher was in the sixth, when Florida International's Kim Rodriguez doubled to right field. Alicia Sisco found Ali Gardiner, who cut the throw off and found Hilberth in perfect position to tag Golden Panthers shortstop Desiree Fink, preserving the shutout.
In Game 1, freshman Michelle Moultrie drove in Francesca Enea to put UF up by 1, and Hilberth singled to left field, driving in Megan Bush. When Moultrie was caught in a rundown between second and third, Kristine Priebe crossed home plate for the Gators' last run of the game.
The Golden Panthers cut the lead to 1 in the fourth inning after Bush fumbled a grounder to load the bases. Enea dove but was unable to grab a shot to left field by Florida International's Lisa Brooks, and 2 runs scored.
Nelson held off the Golden Panthers for the rest of the game, and the Gators secured the win.
With Tiffany DeFelice out for an unknown period of time with an injured wrist, Walton started Priebe at designated hitter in both games and gave Sisco, a freshman, the start in right field in Game 2. Sisco responded by going a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate.
"I've been working really hard on my hitting, and I finally came through and it feels really good," Sisco said.
