Three years ago, Megan Bush was a developing hitter disguised as a shortstop.
Now, she patrols first base, is a rock in the middle of the Gators’ talented lineup and will lead No. 5 Florida (30-4, 7-3 Southeastern Conference) against South Florida (19-15, 1-0 Big East) today at 6 p.m. in Pressly Stadium.
“Megan’s been our most consistent hitter,” UF coach Tim Walton said. “She’s been great, even with two strikes, getting clutch hits for us.”
Her ability to hit the long ball has never been questioned. She knocked 13 home runs in 74 starts as a freshman, including nine in SEC play.
However, she struck out 48 times and had the lowest batting average (.260) of all starters.
Over the next two years, she improved to .327 and .362 while hitting 16 and 15 home runs, respectively.
Halfway through her senior year, she is playing in another stratosphere.
Bush ranks second only to leadoff hitter Michelle Moultrie with a .453 average and has already tied her career high with 16 homers.
Besides her gaudy slugging (1.021) and on-base (.533) percentages, the most impressive number is 57 — her NCAA-leading RBI count.
After knocking in a career-high 50 runs in 59 games last year, the hot-hitting Bush has eclipsed that mark through 34 games and is 14 RBIs ahead of fellow senior Kelsey Bruder for first on the team.
Bush has become more productive with her outs, as evidenced by her team-high five sacrifice flies.
Her development as an all-around hitter couldn’t have come at a better time, as the team lost Francesca Enea, UF’s all-time home run leader, to graduation last year.
But with the way Bush is hitting, the record books are about to be rewritten.
With 60 career home runs, Bush only needs two to break Enea’s total and five to break her single-season record of 20.
Although it would be quite an accomplishment, the senior doesn’t get caught up in the talk about records.
“It doesn’t cross my mind,” she said. “It won’t make me or break me as a player.”
