Florida softball coach Tim Walton put on a show that Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella would be proud of Wednesday night as he was ejected for protesting a call for the first time this season.
There was a method to Walton’s madness, of course. The ejection helped to put an exclamation point on an otherwise methodical performance by the top-ranked Gators, who moved to 43-3 on the season with a 3-0 victory over instate rival Central Florida.
Florida was ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning with runners on first and second when Megan Bush hit a ground ball at UCF shortstop Natalie Lane, who bent over to pick up the ball in the path of pinch-runner Le-Net Franklin.
The two players got tangled and Franklin fell to the ground, but the umpire did not make a call, waiting instead for Lane to throw the ball to third for a forceout.
Walton furiously marched over to third base and argued the call vehemently to both umpire. Walton made sure he got his point across by throwing his hat to the ground before the umpire returned the favor by tossing Walton out of the game.
“Oh, I was going to get thrown out,” Walton said. “There was no question about it. You get to a point where you’ve got to defend your players. It’s two-fold. I wanted to make my point, but I also wanted to let my players know I have their back. I don’t allow my players to talk back to umpires, so I’ve got to battle for them.”
Walton’s ejection ignited the Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium crowd, of course, and also inspired the Gators, in particular Alicia Sisco, who knocked in Florida’s final run of the game with a single.
“Everyone was screaming, yelling, cheering,” said Sisco, who got the start in right field and went 2-for-2 and also reached base when hit by a pitch. “When the crowd’s pumped up, I’m pretty pumped up. I just swung hard and just wanted to get it through the infield.”
Sisco also was thrilled to see a side of Walton that none of Florida’s freshmen have seen before.
“I’ve heard that he’s done that,” Sisco said. “But I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes yet. But it’s kind of exciting. It pumps everyone up and it was for a good reason. I think we were all kind of smiling after it.”
Sisco knows the playing time for freshmen is limited, so she wanted to make an impression when given the opportunity.
“I always go out there when I get a chance to play and just play as hard as I can, just so I can fight for a spot on this great team,” Sisco said. “Every time you get a start it’s just your opportunity to shine. Whoever usually doesn’t start, you just play your hardest and hopefully you get a spot and you get a start again.”
Sisco was part of a defensive lineup that did not feature any seniors. Sophomore Kelsey Bruder took Ali Gardiner’s usual spot at first base to make room for Sisco in right field.
“Next year we’re not going to have any of those seniors,” said sophomore right-hander Stephanie Brombacher. “So getting plenty of experience in different positions and just seeing what we will look like next year is a good for us and for everyone to see that.”
Walton moved Gardiner, who was the designated player, from her usual spot at third in the lineup down to sixth to try to stimulate her production at the plate. Gardiner went 0-for-2 while drawing the only walk of the game. She has only recorded one hit in her last six games.
In addition to Sisco’s two hits, Corrie Brooks went 2-for-3 and Francesca Enea went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Michelle Moultrie scored Florida’s first run on a wild pitch in the third inning. Enea added an RBI single later in the inning for a 2-0 lead.
The three runs was plenty for Brombacher (18-0, 0.91 ERA), who said she feels much better than she did two weeks ago while she was battling the flu. Brombacher allowed three hits and struck out 10 batters as she threw her second straight shutout and her 12th of the season. She is now 38-0 in two years in Gainesville.
The win completed the sweep of the state of Florida for the Gators. They finished 8-0 against its state foes by a margin of 56-6. The accomplishment was especially meaningful for Florida natives Brombacher and Sisco, who say they like to have bragging rights over many of their friends who play on state teams.
“I think sometimes with UCF and FSU,” Brombacher said, ”they come after us a little bit harder because I think a lot of them wanted to come here. It’s just a little chip on their shoulder like, ‘Oh. I’m going to show them.’ FSU definitely gave us a heck of a game the other day. I think it’s always good to beat an instate school.”
Walton discounted the achievement, but wouldn’t hide the importance that kind of dominance holds on the recruiting trail.
“I think it’s just another statistic,” Walton said. “But ultimately we’ve got to beat the teams in state because they are the teams that are regional teams. We’ve got to do a good job for recruiting because it tells everyone that the Gators are going to compete against everybody.”
Up next for the Gators is a three-game road series at Louisiana State. The Gators have lost their last six games in Baton Rouge and prior to last season’s sweep, had lost their last 11 games to the Tigers. The teams will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 2 p.m., followed by the series finale Sunday at 2 p.m. The Gators will return to Gainesville next weekend for their final SEC regular-season series, a three-game stand with Arkansas.