NCAA SCORELIST FOLLOWS
The way the top-ranked Florida Gators softball team was swinging the bats Friday, you’d have thought it was batting practice at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium and not the Gators’ opening game in the NCAA Division I Women’s Softball Tournament Gainesville regional.
Sophomore Aja Paculba led off the game with a home run to left field, the beginning of what turned out to be a long evening for Florida A&M junior right-hander Amanda Reyes, the MEAC Pitcher of the Year. The home run was just one of three the Gators would hit in scoring a 12-0 victory over the Rattlers that set up a showdown today with past NCAA nemesis Texas A&M.
Coach Tim Walton’s Gators (56-3) won for the 22nd straight time (and 45th time in their last 46 games) and will play Texas A&M (32-20), which has ended Florida’s season the last two years. The Aggies advanced with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lehigh in the regional opener. Florida and Texas A&M play at 1 p.m. with Lehigh (36-17-1) and Florida A&M (30-31) playing a 3:30 p.m. elimination game.
It only took two innings for the Gators to pile up 12 runs against Reyes (22-19) whose earned-run average increased by 0.51 after only two innings of work. The Gators are using the age-old approach of taking it one game at a time, but after such a performance, the players couldn’t help but look a little bit further ahead to where that momentum might carry them.
“I think we take it game-by-game,” said sophomore right-hander Stephanie Brombacher, who threw a two-hitter to improve to 21-0 this season and 41-0 over two seasons. “Like Coach said, we need to start out with a win and then one win rolls into another and we take that momentum into the next game and then into the Super Regionals.”
The Gators came roaring out of the gate, unlike their recent slow starts, as if they have been waiting for the postseason to break out the big bats. Florida had 10 hits and four walks off Reyes, who was credited with two innings.
“We’ve got to get things going on the right foot and I’m really excited about the way we opened up the game,” Walton said. “We’ve not so much struggled in the first game, but we’ve had some low-scoring first games in some of our last series and the SEC Tournament, and I thought we did a good job capitalizing on some pitches to hit.”
In addition to the three home runs by Paculba (her eighth), Corrie Brooks (10th) and Megan Bush (14th), Florida also had three doubles (Kelsey Bruder, Tiffany DeFelice and Kim Waleszonia). Paculba reached base three times with two hits and a walk in three at-bats and DP Kristina Hilberth also had a pair of hits. Brooks drove in four runs, while Paculba had three RBI and Francesca Enea and Bush had two each.
After Paculba homered down the line in left on a 2-2 pitch, Hilberth singled up the middle and Ali Gardiner walked. Enea lined out but Bruder doubled home Hilberth. Brooks had a sacrifice fly that made it 3-0 just before Bush hit a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right field for a 5-0 lead after the Gators batted around in the first.
Brombacher, who surrendered a walk in the first, hit Nicol Terryn with a pitch to start the second but then struck out Tara Vincent and Joyce Harold to end the top of the second. The Gators then sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring seven times with the help of five hits, two walks and a Florida A&M error. The big blows were a 2-run single by Enea and Brooks’ 3-run homer to left center and Paculba had a 2-run single to make it 12-0.
The outburst took away any stress that Brombacher may have felt as she took the mound to open the NCAA Tournament.
“I think as a pitcher just knowing my teammates are going to hit and they’re going to score 12 runs, that’s great,” Brombacher said. “But I know our team can hit and they’re going to do great.”
Brombacher threw five shutout innings, allowing only two hits in the fourth inning as she struck out seven batters. The sophomore’s ERA dropped to 0.75 and no one was surprised at the ease with which she retired the Rattlers.
“Actually I did (expect her to pitch that well),” Walton said. “I looked at their lineup as an opportunity to be successful. I thought she might strike out a few more batters just because she has a pretty good riseball. Basically the scouting report said they might be a little susceptible swinging at that pitch, but they did a good job the second time through the lineup making the adjustment on that pitch, so give them credit. But I thought she did a great job.”
With such a dominating performance, Walton had only one problem at the end of the day – finding playing time for his players.
Sophomore Tiffany DeFelice got the start at catcher after making “some good strides in practice over the past couple of weeks.” Walton also found playing time for freshman Lauren Heil at third base, senior Brooke Johnson and freshman Michelle Moultrie in the outfield and gave freshman Alicia Sisco and senior Le-Net Franklin an opportunity to pinch hit.
Senior Kim Waleszonia, who missed most of the season with a knee injury, started in left field, a position she hasn’t played since her freshman year, and went 1-for-2. Since Waleszonia’s return from injury, Walton is still trying to figure out the best way to use the All-American.
“I look at where she’s at post-injury and she doesn’t have the range Kelsey and Michelle have now,” Walton said. “So I’m trying to find her a spot. Kelsey can play center. It’s obviously nice to have a kid hitting close to .400 playing in center field. You can pretty much put whoever in right. It’s something we’ll play with and see how it goes. I don’t really know what I’m going to do tomorrow.”
The easy victory also allowed seniors Stacey Nelson and Hilberth to receive some much-needed rest for the rest of the postseason. Nelson (35-3) will get the start Saturday against the Aggies with Hilberth behind the plate.
“That was the goal going in,” Walton said. “Obviously to try to do everything in our power to win today and if we had the opportunity to give Stacey another day and Kristina another day before they had to get back out there.”
The Gators aren’t going to allow any thoughts of their losses against Texas A&M to interfere with what they need to accomplish.
“I think overall as I talked to our team at the end of the game, they’re a different team, we’re a different team, it’s a different year,” Walton said. “We just have to go out there and really not let any emotional drama get in the way of what we’re doing. What happened last time happened last time and what happens next time has no relevance to what happened last time.”
The winner of the game advances to Sunday’s championship game at 1 p.m. to play whichever team – the loser, Lehigh or Florida A&M – comes out of the losers’ bracket.
Texas A&M 1, Lehigh 0: Senior catcher Erin Glasco hit a two-out, solo home run in the first inning on a 3-2 pitch and the Aggies got a four-hitter from freshman right-hander Rebecca Arbino (12-7), who struck out six. Senior right-hander Lisa Sweeney (22-9) was the hard-luck loser for Lehigh, allowing just four hits and two walks with one strikeout.
NCAA DIVISION I SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
REGIONALS
GAINESVILLE/FLORIDA
At Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium
Friday
Game 1: Texas A&M 1, Lehigh 0
Game 2: Florida 12, Florida A&M 0 (5)
Saturday
Game 3: Texas A&M (32-20) vs. (1) Florida (56-3), 1 p.m.
Game 4: Lehigh (36-17-1) vs. Florida A&M (30-31), 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
TALLAHASSEE/FLORIDA STATE
At JoAnne Graf Field
Friday
Game 1: California 8, Mississippi State 3
Game 2: Oklahoma State 1, (16) Florida State 0
Saturday
Game 3: California (36-18) vs. Oklahoma State (35-20), 1 p.m.
Game 4: Mississippi State (28-27) vs. (16) Florida State (41-15), 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
LOUISVILLE/LOUISVILLE
At Ulmer Stadium
Friday
Game 1: (9) Arizona 9, Tennessee-Martin 3
Game 2: Louisville 4, Purdue 1
Saturday
Game 3: (9) Arizona (42-14) vs. Louisville (48-9), 1 p.m.
Game 4: Tennessee-Martin (38-23) vs. Purdue (29-19), 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
PALO ALTO, CALIF./STANFORD
At Smith Family Stadium
Friday
Game 1: Nevada 4, Cal Poly 1
Game 2: (8) Stanford 10, Portland State 3
Saturday
Game 3: Nevada (40-17) vs. (8) Stanford (45-9), 4 p.m.
Game 4: Cal Poly (39-11) vs. Portland State (29-25), 6:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 9 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 p.m. (if necessary)
ANN ARBOR/MICHIGAN
At Wilpon Softball Complex/Alumni Field
Friday
Game 1: Notre Dame 3, Cleveland State 1
Game 2: Miami, Ohio (32-22) vs. (5) Michigan (41-10), suspended by thunderstorms with Michigan lead 3-2 in the bottom of the third inning. The game will resume Saturday at 10 a.m. ET and be followed by Game 3.
Saturday
Game 3: Notre Dame (42-15) vs. Winner Game 2, Noon
Game 4: Cleveland State (35-17) vs. Loser Game 2, 2:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 5 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
WACO/BAYLOR
At Getterman Stadium
Friday
Game 1: Texas State 8, (12) Northwestern 0
Game 2: Baylor 2, Louisiana-Lafayette 1
Saturday
Game 3: Texas State (40-16) vs. Baylor (38-20), 2:30 p.m.
Game 4: (12) Northwestern (31-14) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette (43-12), 5 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 5 p.m. (if necessary)
KNOXVILLE/TENNESSEE
At Sherri Parker Lee Softball Stadium
Friday
Game 1: Nebraska 4, Jacksonville State 2
Game 2: (13) Tennessee 4, James Madison 3
Saturday
Game 3: Nebraska (35-17) vs. (13) Tennessee (39-16-1), 1:30 p.m.
Game 4: Jacksonville State (38-13) vs. James Madison (35-15), 4 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 2 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 4:30 p.m. (if necessary)
TUSCALOOSA/ALABAMA
At Alabama Softball Complex
Friday
Game 1: Texas 1, Tennessee-Chattanooga 0
Game 2: (4) Alabama 12, Mississippi Valley State 3
Saturday
Game 3: Texas (39-18) vs. (4) Alabama (48-9), 2:30 p.m.
Game 4: Tennessee-Chattanooga (30-23) vs. Mississippi Valley State (37-15), 5 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 5 p.m. (if necessary)
AMHERST/MASSACHUSETTS
At UMass Softball Complex
Friday
Game 1: (3) Washington 9, Sacred Heart 1
Game 2: Massachusetts 8, Cornell 0
Saturday
Game 3: (3) Washington (42-10) vs. Massachusetts (39-8), 2:30 p.m.
Game 4: Sacred Heart (25-27) vs. Cornell (42-12), 5 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 5 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)
ATLANTA/GEORGIA TECH
At Mewborn Field
Friday
Game 1: Auburn 1, Iowa 0
Game 2: (14) Georgia Tech 5, Boston University 1
Saturday
Game 3: Auburn (30-27) vs. (14) Georgia Tech (42-13), 1 p.m.
Game 4: Iowa (42-15) vs. Boston University (41-17), 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
COLUMBUS/OHIO STATE
At New Buckeye Field
Thursday
Game 1: Brigham Young 6, Kentucky 2
Game 2: (11) Ohio State 3, Canisius 0
Friday
Game 3: (11) Ohio State 5, Brigham Young 4
Game 4: Kentucky 7, Canisius 0; Canisius (27-24) eliminated
Game 5: Kentucky 4, Brigham Young 2; Brigham Young (40-18) eliminated
Saturday
Game 6: (11) Ohio State (46-9) vs. Kentucky (34-22), 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
CHAPEL HILL/NORTH CAROLINA
At Anderson Softball Stadium
Thursday
Game 1: (6) Georgia 3, Radford 1
Game 2: North Carolina 21, Campbell 2
Friday
Game 3: (6) Georgia 6, North Carolina 0
Game 4: Radford 9, Campbell 5; Campbell (38-16) eliminated
Game 5: North Carolina 9, Radford 4; Radford (41-15) eliminated.
Saturday
Game 6: (6) Georgia (41-10) vs. North Carolina (47-12), 1 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 3:30 p.m. (if necessary)
NORMAN/OKLAHOMA
At OU Softball Complex
Friday
Game 1: Tulsa 6, Arkansas 0
Game 2: North Dakota State (35-18) vs. (7) Oklahoma (40-14), suspended by thunderstorms after nine innings with game tied 0-0. The game resumes Saturday at noon ET with Game 3 to follow.
Saturday
Game 3: Tulsa (39-15) vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m.
Game 4: Arkansas (27-28) vs. Loser Game 2, 4:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 2 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 4:30 p.m. (if necessary)
TEMPE/ARIZONA STATE
At Farrington Stadium
Friday
Game 1: Louisiana State 3, Cal State Fullerton 2
Game 2: (10) Arizona State 5, San Diego State 0
Saturday
Game 3: Louisiana State (33-16-1) vs. (10) Arizona State (41-16), 6 p.m.
Game 4: Cal State Fullerton (29-20) vs. San Diego State (33-19), 8:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 11 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 5:30 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 8 p.m. (if necessary)
COLUMBIA/MISSOURI
At University Field
Friday
Game 1: Bradley 1, (15) DePaul 0
Game 2: Illinois (29-15) vs. Missouri (45-9), suspended by thunderstorms in the top of the first inning with Illinois leading 1-0. Game will resume Saturday at Noon ET and will be followed by Game 3.
Saturday
Game 3: Bradley (26-26) vs. Winner Game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 4: (15) DePaul (37-13) vs. Loser Game 2, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 2 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 4 p.m. (if necessary)
LOS ANGELES/UCLA
At Easton Stadium
Friday
Game 1: Fresno State 2, UNLV 1
Game 2: (2) UCLA 4, Long Beach State 2
Saturday
Game 3: Fresno State (37-18) vs. (2) UCLA (42-9), 4 p.m.
Game 4: UNLV (31-20) vs. Long Beach State (34-20), 6:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 9 p.m.
Sunday
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 3 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 5:30 p.m. (if necessary)
SUPER REGIONALS
Best-of-three series
May 21-24
Gainesville Regional winner vs. Tallahassee Regional winner
Louisville Regional winner vs. Stanford Regional winner
Ann Arbor Regional winner vs. Waco Regional winner
Knoxville Regional winner vs. Alabama Regional winner
Amherst Regional winner vs. Atlanta Regional winner
Columbus Regional winner vs. Chapel Hill Regional winner
Norman Regional winner vs. Tempe Regional winner
Columbia Regional winner vs. Los Angeles Regional winner
COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
May 28-June 3
Seedings and matchups to be decided