After throwing a perfect game over the weekend and being named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week on Monday, Stephanie Brombacher kept her hot start rolling Wednesday.
Although the Gators’ offense didn’t play up to its lofty standards, Florida got a big lift from its senior ace, who combined with Hannah Rogers to throw a one-hit shutout as UF (6-0) picked up a 7-0 win at Jacksonville (2-3).
After posting big power numbers through its first five games, Florida only managed two extra-base hits and struck out seven times against the Dolphins.
Luckily for the Gators, Brombacher was on her game.
The senior dominated for five innings and recorded eight strikeouts.
Florida’s ace has been pitching so well that Jacey Warner’s third-inning double was the first extra-base hit allowed by Brombacher this year.
UF coach Tim Walton attributed his team’s lack of offensive consistency to its inability to get in a rhythm due to Jacksonville’s erratic pitching. However, he was pleased with his team’s resiliency.
“It was a tough night to watch us hit,” he said. “It’s hard to hit when the pitcher is throwing that many pitches and we walk 11 times, but Stephanie was sharp early, she was sharp late and kept us right there.”
“They swung the bats well, and they were aggressive,” Brombacher said. “I just read their swings and found different holes.”
The Gators displayed patience at the plate, as the Dolphins pitching staff issued 11 walks.
But UF didn’t take advantage of early run-scoring opportunities, leaving the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings.
But, leading 3-0 in the fifth after Michelle Moultrie drew a bases-loaded walk, the Gators’ power stroke finally showed up.
Senior second baseman Aja Paculba hit a grand slam to center field to break open the game. It was the senior’s third home run of the season, and she now leads the team with a .478 average.
Paculba’s timely round-tripper was especially important because the team’s usual power hitters struggled.
Sophomore Brittany Schutte, who entered the game with a team-leading .545 average, went hitless and struck out three times.
Megan Bush and Cheyenne Coyle, the No. 5 and No. 6 hitters, combined to strike out three times, although Coyle did draw a bases-loaded walk in the third inning.
