Lauren Haeger has first base covered.
Although the Florida sophomore is a formidable force in both the circle and the batter’s box, she always makes time to work on her fielding.
“It’s something that I’ve always done,” Haeger said. “It’s just normal to me.”
Haeger has split time at first base with freshman Taylor Schwarz this year.
During the Florida Lipton Invitational, Haeger saw her first substantial action outside the circle this season.
Although both Haeger and Schwarz performed well in the field, their seasons have differed drastically at the plate.
Haeger is currently second on the team in batting average and a 1.195 OPS. She has hit two home runs and is tied for the team lead with 11 RBI.
Haeger’s production picked up when No. 5 Florida (12-0) came home to play in the Lipton Invitational.
During the six-game tourney in Gainesville against unranked competition, Haeger went 7 for 15 with two doubles. She also hit both of her home runs at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. One was a clutch homer. Haeger forced extra innings, hitting a solo shot with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning in Florida’s 4-3 win against Charleston Southern on Sunday.
“I know that’s why [coach Tim Walton] put me back in after Schwarz took over at first,” Haeger said.
Schwarz has struggled to adjust to college-level pitching. She’s only batting .125. Her only two hits this season are the two home runs she hit during the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.
Schwarz said she needed to improve her offense in the future, but the most important thing was helping the team win.
Haeger and Schwarz will likely continue to share time at first base this weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., where the Gators will play five games, including one against No. 7 Missouri.
“Taylor Schwarz is one of the best first basemen that I’ve ever coached, as far as the skill level she has around the base on defense,” Walton said. “She’s going to get a lot of playing time in her career, but Lauren’s just killing the ball right now.”
Lauren Haeger (17) runs home after hitting a game-tying homer during Florida’s 4-3 victory against Charleston Southern on Feb. 17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
