Katie Medina needed to make a tough play.
In the first inning of Florida’s game against Tennessee on March 16, Volunteers shortstop Madison Shipman lofted a fly ball into foul territory behind third base.
Medina ranged over to field the pop up, but overran the ball. The seemingly sure out instead tipped off the end of Medina’s glove and landed in foul territory.
Shipman struck out later in the at-bat, but Tennessee struck for a run in the inning, which provided key insurance in its 3-1 win.
Medina’s defense was lacking in the series. Although the foul pop up was not recorded as an official error, Medina was charged with three against the Volunteers during the weekend, and her fielding percentage dropped to .916 — the lowest on the team.
Her infield defense will need to improve for No. 3 Florida’s (28-3, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) weekend series against Arkansas (21-10, 0-3 SEC).
But Medina’s weekend in the field was not a total loss. On Friday, Shipman doubled to right-center field. Medina cut off the throw from center fielder Kirsti Merritt and fired a laser to the plate, catching the runner out by a solid margin.
“That was a perfect, bullet strike from Katie Medina,” coach Tim Walton said. “It did change the outcome of the game. It was a great relay from Kirsti to Katie.”
The effect on the game was evident throughout the series as Tennessee runners stopped taking the extra base on balls hit to the outfield.
The team saw what poor defense can do in its 11-0 win against USC Upstate on Wednesday. The Spartans committed two errors, including a miscue by second baseman Dana Landers that allowed the Gators to get on the board first. Florida did not commit an error on Wednesday.
“I thought they played great,” pitcher Hannah Rogers said. “You can’t have no hits without your defense working for you.”
Pitchers dominate: Rogers and sophomore Alyssa Bache nearly combined for a no-hitter against the Spartans on Wednesday.
Rogers pitched four hitless innings, striking out seven batters. The junior right-hander made quick work of USC Upstate, facing only two more than the minimum batters possible.
Bache came in and surrendered a leadoff double, but put the next two batters down with strikeouts and induced a ground ball to end the game.
“Nine strikeouts out of the 15 (batters), we only had to make six outs,” Walton said.
Rogers will see more time in the circle this weekend against the Razorbacks. The series starts tonight at 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
“They’re a great team,” Rogers said. “They have great hitters up and down the lineup.”
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Katie Medina jogs out of the batter’s box during Florida’s 9-1 win over UNC Wilmington on Feb. 17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Medina singled with bases loaded to help Florida to a 4-3 walk-off victory against UAB on Saturday in the NCAA Super Regional.
