In high-pressure scenarios, coach Tim Walton turns to Lauren Haeger.
Since she arrived at Florida, Haeger has been the Gators’ go-to closing pitcher.
“That’s a role that Lauren has embraced since she’s been here,” Walton said.
Haeger entered No. 3 Florida’s (27-3, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) game against No. 8 Tennessee (23-6, 3-3 SEC) on Sunday in the seventh inning with runners on first and second. In a two-out jam, Haeger induced an inning-ending groundout.
She returned in the eighth and walked a batter before ending the frame unscathed.
The appearance was Haeger’s second scoreless relief outing against a ranked team in a week.
Against Alabama on March 6, Haeger threw two scoreless innings against the then-No. 1 Crimson Tide. She struck out four batters while holding Alabama hitless.
“Coach tells me all the time that that’s where he likes me the best,” Haeger said. “He says, ‘I see it in your eyes when you really want the ball.’”
But Haeger does not always lock down the opposition when she comes in to close out a game.
Against the Volunteers on Friday, Walton entrusted Haeger with a 5-3 lead she failed to protect.
After retiring the leadoff batter, the sophomore surrendered a single to Tennessee third baseman Raven Chavanne and a homer to second baseman Lauren Gibson, tying the game.
Haeger loaded the bases before ending the inning with a groundout, but the damage had been done.
“I know everybody jumped to conclusions on Friday night,” Walton said. “She’s done very, very, very well. … If we don’t give them four outs on Friday night, we might look like geniuses. It’s something that she embraces. She wanted the ball in that situation.”
Haeger’s clutch performances against Tennessee were not limited to the pitching circle.
She came up in Sunday’s sixth inning with Florida trailing by three runs. The Gators had not scored until Haeger launched a ball to the left of the scoreboard in left-center field.
The sophomore came up again two innings later and won the series for Florida with her second home run of the day and third of the series. She was named co-SEC Player of the Week for her performance.
“It’s just a good player making some adjustments,” Walton said. “[Tennessee pitcher Ivy Renfroe] owned Lauren on Friday night. … It was a good individual performance by Lauren.”
Haeger and Florida face USC Upstate (21-2) tonight a 6 p.m.
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
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.
