COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sophomore Kelsey Bruder hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning of the opening game and then provided Florida’s first run in the second game with a solo home run to help the No. 2 Gators softball team to a 4-2, 3-1 sweep of South Carolina in the opening Southeastern Conference series for both teams Saturday.
Coach Tim Walton’s Gators improved to 21-2 with the doubleheader sweep. Florida and South Carolina (12-4) will meet Sunday afternoon at noon to close out the series.
Bruder’s two-run homer followed a single by senior catcher Kristina Hilberth, who went 2-for-3 to back senior right-hander Stacey Nelson. Nelson improved to 10-2 after scattering six hits and one walk while allowing two earned runs and striking out 10.
The Gators took a 1-0 lead in the opener when junior Corrie Brooks hit a sacrifice fly to center with the bases loaded, scoring senior Ali Gardiner, who had walked.
Florida went up 2-0 in the fifth when Lauren Heil and Brooks pulled off a double steal with two outs, Heil stealing home as Brooks stole second.
But South Carolina tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth on Jill Semento’s two-out double to left center. It stayed that way until Bruder’s two-run homer in the eighth. Florida finished with nine hits, with Francesca Enea and Hilberth each having two hits.
In the second game, sophomore right-hander Stephanie Brombacher improved to 11-0 this season and 31-0 in her career by throwing a four-hitter in the second game. She walked two and struck out seven while allowing one earned run in the bottom of the seventh.
After Aja Paculba grounded out to lead off the game, Bruder hit a 1-2 pitch from starting pitcher Krystle Robinson over the fence in center field for a 1-0 lead.
The Gators added two runs on three hits in the fourth for a 3-0 lead. Michelle Moultrie doubled to center field to score pinch-runner Danyell Hines and Hilberth drove in Moultrie with an infield hit.
Brombacher lost her bid for a shutout when Evan Childs doubled home P.J. Fulmer, who had walked, with none out. Brombacher then struck out Jacqueline Wetherbee, Cagney Davis and pinch-hitter Kristen Stubblefield to end the game.
Bruder finished the second game with three hits in four at-bats.
Following Sunday’s game, the Gators return home to host Georgia in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. and then travel to Oxford, Miss., for three games – a doubleheader on Saturday, March 14 and a single game on Sunday, March 15.