Alyssa Bache took the circle against Savannah State for the second consecutive day.
And for the second time in as many days, she shut out the Lady Tigers.
Bache allowed only 2 hits in five innings as the No. 5 Gators (10-0) cruised to a 14-0 run-rule victory at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on the second day of the Florida Lipton Invitational.
Bache struck out a career-high nine batters without walking any.
“She was spinning the ball really, really well,” catcher Aubree Munro said. “She was throwing hard, working counts (and) working batters.”
Bache’s nine-strikeout performance was the best showing from the Gators’ staff through 10 games this season.
Hannah Rogers also tossed a complete-game shutout on Saturday. The junior right-hander pitched seven innings against Western Carolina (5-3), striking out eight batters while giving up four hits and walking three.
Rogers said after the game that she didn’t have her best game on Saturday, but coach Tim Walton said that even on off days, Rogers is still a solid hurler.
“I told her, ‘Good pitchers win when they don’t have their good stuff,’” Walton said.
Florida’s offense had another great showing on Saturday, scoring 14 runs against Savannah State (3-4) and beating Western Carolina 5-0, but the offense came at a price.
In the third inning, freshman Kirsti Merritt lined a double to left field, but came up limping after rounding first.
Senior Kelsey Horton replaced Merritt, and Walton said Merritt likely re-aggravated a leg injury that bothered her before the season began.
Florida finishes play at the Lipton Invitational on Sunday against UNC Wilmington (3-4) and Charleston Southern (2-4).
Sophomore Alyssa Bache threw a complete game shutout against Savannah State on Saturday.
