On Tuesday, the UF softball team reclaimed the top spot in the national rankings. On Wednesday, the Gators showed why they are the nation's No. 1 team.
Led by complete game, one-hit outings from both pitchers and an explosive offensive performance in Game 1, UF (24-2, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) won both games of its doubleheader against No. 8 Georgia at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, taking Game 1 15-0 and Game 2 4-0.
The Bulldogs (15-4, 0-2 SEC) seemed as if they would be the Gators' first true test in conference play, as they went a combined 3-1 against the two teams UF lost to this season (Baylor and Washington).
But that didn't stop the Gators from putting together possibly the most complete performance of this season. UF totaled 17 runs on 19 hits, did not commit an error and held Georgia to just two hits on the day.
"We try not to focus on the rankings, but since they beat Washington, who we lost to, for us to come out here and run-rule them 15-0 then turn around and beat them fair in another game, it's going to turn a lot of heads," pitcher Stephanie Brombacher said. "I think we've proved how good we can be."
Brombacher (12-0) and senior Stacey Nelson (12-2) were dominant in the circle for the Gators. Nelson, who pitched all five innings of Game 1, gave up one hit and walked one batter.
The senior had plenty of help, as UF scored 7 runs in the first inning behind a double by Francesca Enea, the second grand slam of the season from Corrie Brooks and a single by Michelle Moultrie.
In Game 2, Brombacher matched the All-American's effort with a perfect game through six innings, when she gave up her first and only hit of the day -- a double by Georgia second baseman Ashley Pauly.
"I thought it was a good pitch," Brombacher said, referring to the curveball that Pauly took to center field. "I tip my hat to her. She hit my best pitch."
Right fielder Kelsey Bruder sparked the Gators' bats with her team-high eighth home run of the year, a deep shot to center field in the first inning of Game 2. Shortstop Megan Bush followed suit in the next inning with a solo home run of her own, putting UF ahead 2-0.
To prepare for the Bulldogs, UF coach Tim Walton put his team through one of its most demanding practices of the season. Walton said his team practiced for about four hours Tuesday and described the day as "a tough one," but the extra work was instrumental in the Gators' performance Wednesday.
"You could say it paid off, but we really had a lot of things to work on," Walton said. "We had to prepare for this team. If you want to win the SEC and you want to win the East, you go through Georgia every year."
Walton added that Enea "tweaked herself a little bit" during Game 1, and the junior left fielder sat out from the bottom of the third inning of Game 1 to the fourth inning of Game 2.
Enea went to the training room before returning to pinch hit and play her usual spot in left field for the remainder of the second game.
