Alyssa Bache’s first inning in 2013 was not her finest hour.
The sophomore gave up a two-run home run and threw a wild pitch in relief of starter Lauren Haeger against Creighton on Feb. 8.
Luckily for Bache, the runs didn’t matter. The Gators had mashed their way to a 13-1 lead before she entered the game. Bache finished her inning with three strikeouts, and Florida won 13-3.
But Bache’s luck changed in her next three outings.
In her only start during the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., Bache tossed a complete-game shutout. However, she struggled with her command, walking five.
When the No. 5 Gators (12-0) came home for the Florida Lipton Invitational, Bache’s pitching reached new heights.
Against Savannah State on Friday, Bache came two outs away from tossing the first Florida no-hitter since Stephanie Brombacher pitched five hitless innings against N.C. State on Feb. 12, 2011.
“I didn’t want to say anything to anybody, and I was hoping nobody would say anything to me,” Bache said.
Bache’s no-hit bid was broken up by Savannah State shortstop Tiffany Taylor, but it wasn’t the pressure of the situation that got to Bache.
“I’ve been in those situations,” Bache said. “Last year, I had a couple of them, and of course, they didn’t happen. But in high school I threw like seven perfect games, so I’m used to it.”
After having her chance at Gators history taken away on Friday, Bache came back to torment Tigers batters again on Saturday.
Although her chances for a no-hitter were broken up in the second inning on Saturday, her second performance against Savannah State might have surpassed the first.
Bache struck out nine Tigers on Saturday, the most by any Gators hurler this season. Her strikeout total was the highest of her career, topping her previous best of five.
“I wasn’t even counting,” Bache said. “I was just trying to throw, trying to get them to swing to get outs. That’s all I was thinking about.”
Her pitch location also improved. Bache didn’t walk a single batter, and five of her strikeouts caught Savannah State batters looking.
Bache has arguably been Florida’s best pitcher through the Gators’ first 12 games.
She leads the Florida staff in ERA by more than a run.
More advanced statistics give Bache an edge, too. Bache leads junior Hannah Rogers in WHIP by 0.14, and she has a Fielding Independent Pitching average of -0.47, 0.25 points lower than Rogers’ mark.
“It’s awesome to have [Rogers] … to help me out,” Bache said.
“We’re just both doing great right now.”
Sophomore Alyssa Bache pitches in the Florida Lipton Invitational. Bache surrendered six runs in four innings of work against Ole Miss on Sunday.
