They took the hard way, but made it look easy.
Following Friday’s NCAA Regional loss to Florida Gulf Coast, No. 5 seed Florida was one loss away from elimination from the NCAA Tournament. Being thrown into the losers’ bracket forced Florida to win-or-go-home in its matchup with Central Florida on Saturday.
The Gators, who lost their only previous matchup with the Knights this season on April 11, had to defeat the Knights to stay alive and prevent being knocked out in the regional round for the first time since 2006.
Hannah Rogers and Lauren Haeger combined to allow just one run in the circle, while Haeger launched two homers to boost Florida’s offense.
“We were ready to play,” Walton said. “Definitely a little more confident than yesterday and definitely looked like we were playing a little more comfortable as well.”
Walton said his team came out stronger at the plate today because it was able to jump out to an early lead.
“The lead changes your swings,” he said. “If you got a lead, it’s a lot easier to swing the bat.”
Haeger’s first home run, a two-run shot in the third, was all the Gators really needed after holding the Knights to just one run in seven innings. But Haeger piled on with home run No. 13 in the fifth to put the game out of reach.
The three-time winner of the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week ended the game with a 2-for-3, three RBI performance in a 7-1 victory against UCF.
“I just wanted to take my hacks,” Haeger said. “I know if I swing the bat, good things will happen.”
After FGCU lost to South Florida in the winners’ bracket on Saturday afternoon, Florida’s rematch against FGCU was set for Saturday night.
And although the Eagles were able to hold the Gators to one run on five hits on Friday, they could not stop Haeger on Saturday.
Haeger, who also started in the circle, helped herself out with her 14th homer of the year and third on the day. However, Florida also received plenty of offensive firepower from others like Michelle Moultrie, Kelsey Horton and even Samantha Holle who hit her first home run of the season and only her fifth of her career Saturday.
Horton was in an unusual position at the No. 2 spot in the lineup, but she made the most of it. She went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two home runs against FGCU.
“I felt like I just made really good adjustments today,” Horton said. “This was the third time we’ve seen (their pitcher) this season so I just felt good in the box today.”
Florida now moves on to play USF on Sunday for the Regional Championship. The Gators split the season series against the Bulls after winning their first matchup in early February but dropping the latest game in March.
“If I were to rate the four teams in this tournament, I think I’d give the advantage to South Florida,” Walton said. “We just have to go play ball.”
And to win the regional, Florida must defeat USF in two straight games.
“I’m not going to coach it any different,” Walton said. “You got to win the first one so that’s the goal.”
