After two successful years at the plate and in the pitcher’s circle, Lauren Haeger knows what is expected of her.
“I don’t really have a lot of pre-game jitters anymore, because I know how it’s going to be and how fast-paced the game is,” she said. “I know what coach (Tim) Walton’s expectations are. I know what the routine is. I know how we do things.”
And with her best offensive showing of the early season, she lived up to those expectations at the Easton Desert Classic last weekend.
The junior earned her second consecutive league honor when she was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday.
During Florida’s sweep of the UNLV-hosted tournament, Haeger posted a .533 batting average in five games at Eller Media Stadium. Half of her eight hits left the park.
Haeger also pitched a complete game against Seattle in Florida’s opening matchup in Las Vegas, striking out six batters while drawing only two walks and one earned run in the Gators’ 8-1 win against the Redhawks.
Haeger attributes her success at the plate to her dual-role as a pitcher and a hitter.
“It’s good because I get the pitcher mentality of it and I get the hitter mentality of it, and I think it works in my advantage most of the time,” she said. “It’s good because I can read pitchers’ spins well. I can see movement just because I do the same thing.”
Haeger hopes to continue her success when No. 1 Florida (11-0) hosts Jacksonville (5-4) tonight at 6:05.
The Gators are 8-0 against the Dolphins in Walton’s tenure at Florida, winning the contests by a combined score of 57-6.
In its home debut, Florida also hopes to see continued improvement from its three freshmen.
Despite starting the season batting .100, freshman outfielder Justine McLean now boasts a .348 average after posting a team-leading .538 clip at the plate in Las Vegas.
Utility player Chelsea Herndon, who has been used mainly as a pinch hitter through Florida’s first 11 contests, has logged three hits, including her first career home run against then-No. 22 Minnesota, in five at-bats.
Pitcher Delanie Gourley boasts a 4-0 record in the circle, including wins against then-No. 5 Michigan and Minnesota. The left-hander from Lakeside, Calif., boasts a 4.4:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has allowed only eight earned runs through 22 innings.
While McLean and Herndon had a slow start to the season, Haeger saw their potential immediately.
“They (the freshmen) totally bought into the system right away and they just wanted to start right away, and you can see it in their attitude,” Haeger said.
“They listen to everybody. They just soaked in everything that was thrown their way and so I think that really helped them in the long run.”
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Lauren Haeger prepares to swing at the plate during Florida’s 6-5 win against Tennessee on March 15, 2013, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
