There was something different in the air for the No. 10 Florida softball team’s series opener against Arkansas on Friday afternoon.
The Gators got off to a fast start and ended their six-game losing streak beating the Razorbacks 4-0.
Florida senior Tiffany DeFelice, playing in her first home game since coming back from a broken left hand, started behind the plate and helped the Gators reach one objective they had coming into the series.
“I really saw a difference in us today compared to the past six games. I think we were all in this together as a team today,” DeFelice said. “We all had one goal and that was to come out here and break that streak.”
The Gators (31-7, 8-6 SEC) broke the game open in the third inning with second baseman Aja Paculba’s bases clearing double, which scored three runs.
Right fielder Brittany Schutte added a solo home run in the sixth. While Schutte did park the ball in the right field trees, the team decided to give Schutte the silent treatment as she crossed home plate following her long ball. Her teammates mobbed and congratulated her after a few moments.
Left fielder Kelsey Bruder, who called a mid-week team meeting to help refocus the team’s efforts, said the meeting helped bring everyone back on the same page, including pulling the prank on Schutte.
“We found new energy for the game and big-leaguing Brittany was very fun,” Bruder said. “The momentum is definitely on our side. We just needed to win one and we will get back to business.”
The Gators found some of that energy from leadoff hitter Michelle Moultrie as the center fielder reached base on two bunt hits, a technique that is a part of her varied offensive arsenal.
“Today she only showed one of her weapons and she has about three more left,” head coach Tim Walton said. “In a three-game series she can do a lot of different things. She is definitely a threat.”
Florida’s freshman pitcher Hannah Rogers (17-5, 1.91) broke a four-game losing streak of her own pitching a complete-game shutout on 82 pitches, while picking up four strikeouts bringing her season total to 100.
“She just wants to take it one batter at a time and mow down whoever comes in next,” DeFelice said. “She is a really good competitor.”
Rogers should be the starter going into the second game of the series Saturday at 4 p.m. against Arkansas (10-30, 1-16 SEC).
Although the Gators rolled to a series opening victory, Walton thinks that there is room for improvement.
“If I were to gauge today on a 100 percent factor, I would probably be 68 percent satisfied,” Walton said. “It is not about the outcome. It is all about how you go about every single at-bat, every single ground ball, pregame, postgame, between innings. That is where this club needs to get.”
Gator Country reporter Adam Pincus can be reached at adam@gatorcountry.com — You can also follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/adamDpincus.