By BRAD GOLDBACH
With the top-ranked Florida Gators caught in a tougher-than-expected college softball battle with Florida International Wednesday, unheralded senior Kristina Hilberth steered the ship to victory as the Gators avoided a mishap before returning to Southeastern Conference play.
“If I gave such a thing as a game ball away today it would’ve gone to Kristina Hilberth,” said Florida coach Tim Walton. “I thought she was electric. She does the things you don’t notice. She had a really, really good game.”
Florida (29-2, 8-0 SEC) defeated the Golden Panthers (16-17) by scores of 3-2 and 5-0 in Wednesday’s doubleheader at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Hilberth, who was 2-3 in each game and totaled 3 RBI on the day, was glad for the chance to help push her team over the top and knows that her talented teammates are capable of doing the same on any given night.
“Someone’s got to (step up),” Hilberth said. “Today the ball dropped for me in the infield and the outfield. You’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities when seeing a pitcher well or placing the ball well, so I’m glad to be that senior to step up for my team. But any given athlete in our lineup or even off our bench can do that for us. That’s really encouraging.”
Hilberth’s two-run single helped Florida to a 3-0 lead after two innings in game one and the Gators appeared to be cruising to another victory. But Florida International pitcher Kasey Barrett shut down the Florida bats the rest of the way and only allowed four hits on the game.
The Golden Panthers showed signs of life at the plate after a Megan Bush error kept the inning alive in the fourth. Florida International pinch-hitter Lisa Brooks followed with a two-out, two-run single to left field to bring Florida International within one. Stacey Nelson proceeded to retire the next eight batters before a Michelle Moultrie throwing error put the Golden Panthers’ tying run at third base with two outs in the seventh inning. But Hilberth, the catcher, made one of those electric plays when she made a sliding catch behind home plate to preserve the victory.
Even though both the runs Nelson (15-2) gave up were unearned, she did surrender seven hits. She did not have her best game, but Nelson may have made the biggest play of the day with the mini-scouting report she gave Stephanie Brombacher before game two.
“Stacey and I kind of talked a little bit after (the first game) and I knew that the top of their lineup was very aggressive,” Brombacher said. “So I could throw the ball a little bit more off the plate. I knew that they were going to chase it. The umpire kind of helped because he was giving me off the plate. So if they’re going to give it to me I might as well take it.”
Brombacher parlayed that into a four-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts that helped the Gators get back on track. Brombacher went to 14-0 on the season and remains undefeated (34-0) for her career.
With Brombacher leading them, the Gators slowly built an insurmountable lead while playing small ball, manufacturing runs on stolen bases and sacrifice bunts. The team also capitalized off a few Florida International mistakes and put to rest any doubts that lingered after the first game.
“I’m happy about how my team responded after game one,” Hilberth said. “We didn’t come out necessarily flat, but we just didn’t get after the opportunity that we should have. We knew that we should be scoring more than three runs. They’re a great team, but we have a great offense. So we should’ve been scoring a little bit more, taking advantage of runners in scoring position. I’m more proud of that than anything else.”
Along with Hilberth, sophomore Kelsey Bruder (2-4) and freshman Alicia Sisco (3-3) led the Gators in the game two victory. Sisco did not start game one, but her performance in game two was a night to remember.
“It feels unbelievable,” Sisco said. “It’s awesome that I’m doing this in college. I’ve always dreamed to do it. I’ve just been working really hard and finally it pays off. I’m very happy for that.”
Sisco was one of the players to help fill in for Tiffany DeFelice, who missed both games with an undisclosed wrist injury, but Walton in unsure how long she will miss time.
“(DeFelice) is out,” Walton said. “Her status is out. I’m not sure for how long yet, but she’ll be out with a wrist injury. She hasn’t seen a doctor. She’s just out for a while.”
If DeFelice is out for a while, the Gators will face an even tougher battle in the upcoming weeks when they face No. 6/7 Tennessee and No. 2 Alabama.
Florida will face the Volunteers in Gainesville for a three-game series this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday, starting at 1 p.m., and will finish the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.