KNOXVILLE, Tenn. &ndash With a 26-1 regular-season conference record and the top spot in the national polls all but locked up, it might seem like UF doesn't have much at stake in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
But even for a team focused on winning a national championship, every game has a purpose, including its 3-0 first-round win over eighth-seeded Auburn (29-27) at Lee Softball Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Thursday afternoon.
"If the conference tournament is good for something, it's good for one thing, and that's getting your team used to playing a single-elimination tournament against quality opponents," said UF coach Tim Walton, who was named the SEC Coach of the Year earlier this week. "I definitely like playing a conference tournament before a regional because it really helps you to get ready for quality pitching."
The No. 1 Gators (53-3) faced a difficult challenge right off the bat from Auburn's Anna Thompson (14-15, 2.16 ERA), who struck out seven batters and gave up only four hits in the loss.
Two of those hits came in the first inning, and that was all UF needed to secure the victory.
Second baseman Aja Paculba led off by drawing a walk, and catcher Kristina Hilberth reached on an infield single that Auburn's Kyndall White was unable to field.
Thompson struck out first baseman Ali Gardiner, but her second wild pitch of the inning allowed Paculba and Hilberth to move into scoring position.
Francesca Enea took advantage of the opportunity with a double to left-center field, driving in both runners and giving UF the 2-0 lead.
"That's the nature of our game. You have to get momentum first and then keep it," Walton said. "I thought we did a good job coming out and grabbing the momentum right out of the gate."
Stacey Nelson (33-3, 0.35 ERA), who was recently given her second straight SEC Pitcher of the Year award, was perfect through three innings and held on for her 18th shutout of the season, giving up two hits and walking only one batter.
"She's good. I mean, look at her numbers. She's good," Auburn coach Tina Deese said. "You can't let her get ahead of you. You've got to get the first couple pitches or she's going to get you. She's got all the pitches."
Paculba added another insurance run in the third inning with a leadoff solo shot to left field, her seventh home run of the season.
"It was high and outside, but I had one strike on me, so I just told myself to swing if it was close," Paculba said. "It set the tempo for the rest of the game. We always try to get on top at the beginning, just so we can kind of let loose for the rest of the game."
Auburn threatened to score twice, putting runners in scoring position in the fourth and seventh innings, but Nelson forced three straight outs in the fourth and the final groundout in the seventh to preserve the shutout.
UF will face fifth-seeded Tennessee (38-15-1) in its home stadium Friday at 7:30 p.m. The Volunteers took down fourth-seeded LSU in Thursday's final first-round game with a 6-5 win.
