The way the top-ranked Florida softball team is playing these days, teams are pulling out all the stops to score runs, even if it means trying to sneak around the bases.
But Texas A&M found out the hard way that trying to rattle coach Tim Walton’s Gators by causing havoc on the bases will only dig yourself a deeper hole.
The approach kept Texas A&M within reach for most of the game and even closed Florida’s lead to 2-1 in the fifth inning. But when the Gators decided to put the game away, the Aggies’ strategy left them helpless.
Florida eventually pulled away for a 7-1 victory on its home turf at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium to advance to the NCAA Gainesville Regional championship Sunday.
The Gators (57-3), winners of 23 straight for the second time this season (and 46 of their last 47 games), will meet Lehigh (38-17-1) at 1 p.m. Lehigh eliminated Florida A&M with a 9-0 victory and then ousted Texas A&M, 3-2, to reach the championship game with one loss in the double-elimination tournament. If Lehigh beats Florida, another game will follow at 3:30 p.m. with that winner playing the winner of the Tallahassee Regional in a best-of-three Super Regional next weekend.
“They tried to keep sneaking around us, but we got them out,” said Francesca Enea, who had one of Florida’s four doubles, driving home the first of two runs in the bottom of the fifth that gave senior left-hander Stacey Nelson (36-3, 0.44 ERA) some breathing room. “It’s just a matter of being heads-up. That’s what we do. In the outfield, you’re waiting there, ready to make a play and you have to think of all the different types of things that can happen. It was exciting to make those plays. We were really heads-up.”
After losing pitcher Rhiannon Kliesing (20-13) led off the second inning with a double, Enea gunned her out trying to go to third on Reynolds’ one-out single.
Then in the top of the third, Macie Moore advanced Natalie Villarreal to third on her single. But Florida third baseman Corrie Brooks fielded Kim Waleszonia’s throw from right and whipped it to shortstop Megan Bush, who tagged out Moore trying to go to second. Nelson then struck out catcher Erin Glasco on a 2-2 pitch, one of her season-high14 strikeouts on the afternoon to maintain Florida’s lead.
The base-running mistakes certainly didn’t help the Aggies, who have ended Florida’s softball seasons the last two seasons, last year at the College World Series in Oklahoma City 1-0 in nine innings in a game that moved Texas A&M into the best-of-three championship series against eventual champion Arizona State.
Texas A&M’s nine hits were the most surrendered in a game by the Gators this season (Nevada, Florida State and Alabama all had eight-hit games). The Gators, meanwhile, managed 11 against Kliesing, who walked one and struck out three. Aja Paculba and Kristina Hilberth, Florida’s leadoff batters, each went 2-for-4 and totaled four runs, three by Hilberth. Bush had a pair of doubles in three at-bats.
The victory moved Nelson past UCLA’s Keira Goerl into seventh place on the NCAA all-time wins list with 131. She is now five wins behind Texas’ Cat Osterman.
The Gators gave Nelson a 2-0 lead by scoring a run in each of the first two innings on RBI singles by sophomores Kelsey Bruder (1-for-2, 2 RBI) and Paculba. It was the fifth straight game the Gators have scored in the first inning.
“Any time you’re playing a good team with good experience — the team has gone to the College World Series the last two years — it’s good to put them on their heels a little bit,” Walton said.
Walton refused to concede that playing the team that had eliminated his team the last two seasons gave the Gators any extra motivation coming into the game.
“(The wins) all mean the same,” Walton said. “It doesn’t really matter who we’re playing. It’s about taking care of each day.”
Just when the Gators seemed to be going into cruise control, the Aggies looked like they had one last run in them as they cut the deficit to 2-1.
But as this year’s team has proven lately, it knows how to finish a team off. Just as they did in the SEC Tournament against Alabama (scoring five in the bottom of the first to counter the Tide’s two early runs) and against Tennessee (scoring four in each of the first two innings after spotting the Volunteers a 3-0 lead), the Gators scored five times in the last two innings to shut the door on the Aggies.
“You’ve got to grab momentum,” Walton said. “You’ve got to re-grab momentum. I think that’s the whole goal – coming out and scoring early in the game. And if the other team scores, you’ve got to go ahead and grab the momentum back and we did a good job of that today.”
After Enea started the late-inning surge with her RBI double off the left-field wall, Kelsey Bruder drove home Hilberth for a 4-1 lead.
Then Florida turned the tables on the Aggies’ strategy of attacking the bases when freshman Michelle Moultrie laid down a bunt that caught the A&M defense completely off-guard in the sixth inning.
Second baseman Villarreal failed to cover first, causing Glasco — who noticed the missed assignment too late — to throw the ball in the dirt as she tried to hold back. Senior Le-Net Franklin scored all the way from first and Moultrie advanced to second on the play and took third on Hilberth’s second hit. Hilberth then stole second and senior Ali Gardiner brought home both runners to seal the victory.
Florida’s ability to counter every opponent’s punch lately has left Nelson virtually speechless, knowing that her teammates are there to cover any mistake she may make.
“It’s priceless,” Nelson said with a smile on her face. “They (the Aggies) found ways to get on base. They got hits to both left and right field. As a pitcher, I’m not happy about nine hits and a run. But the offense scored seven, which made up for it.”
It doesn’t matter who the Gators will face Sunday.
“Being a coach, you really don’t care who you see tomorrow in the championship game,” Walton said. “If I were to expect (Texas A&M) and Lehigh or Florida A&M beats them, then we kind of killed the mojo a little bit. So I’m not going to say. I’m not going to think about it. We’re just going to play ball.”
That’s been the game plan for 60 games this season.
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: (1) Florida 7, Texas A&M 1
Game 4: Lehigh 9, Florida A&M; Florida A&M (30-32) eliminated
Game 5: Lehigh 3, Texas A&M 2; Texas A&M (32-22) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: (1) Florida (57-3) vs. Lehigh (38-17-1), 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 2, Oklahoma State 0
Game 4: (16) Florida State 5, Mississippi State 0; Mississippi State (28-28) eliminated
Game 5: Oklahoma State 1, (16) Florida State 0 (12); (16) Florida State (44-16) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: California (37-18) vs. Oklahoma State (36-21), 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 18, Louisville 4
Game 4: Purdue 6, Tennessee-Martin 2; Tennessee-Martin (38-24) eliminated
Game 5: Purdue 5, Louisville 4; Louisville (48-11) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: (9) Arizona (43-14) vs. Purdue (31-19), 2 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 4 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: (8) Stanford 9, Nevada 1 (5)
Game 4: Cal Poly 5, Portland State 0; Portland State (29-26) eliminated
Game 5: Cal Poly 6, Nevada 1; Nevada (40-19) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: (8) Stanford (46-9) vs. Cal Poly (41-11), 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 2: (5) Michigan 11, Miami, Ohio 3 (completion of suspended game)
Game 3: (5) Michigan 2, Notre Dame 1
Game 4: Miami, Ohio 5, Cleveland State 4; Cleveland State (35-19) eliminated
Game 5: Notre Dame 5, Miami, Ohio 3; Miami, Ohio (33-24) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: (5) Michigan (43-10) vs. Notre Dame (43-16), 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 (5)
Game 2: Baylor 2, Louisiana-Lafayette 1
Saturday
Game 3: Baylor 7, Texas State 4
Game 4: Louisiana-Lafayette 3, (12) Northwestern 2; (12) Northwestern (31-15) eliminated
Sunday
Game 5: Louisiana-Lafayette (44-12) vs. Texas State (40-17), 1:30 p.m.
Game 6: Baylor (39-20) vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 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: (13) Tennessee 5, Nebraska 2
Game 4: Jacksonville State 6, James Madison 0; James Madison (35-16) eliminated
Sunday
Game 5: Jacksonville State (40-14) vs. Nebraska (35-18), 11:30 a.m.
Game 6: (13) Tennessee (40-16-1) 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 (9)
Game 2: (4) Alabama 12, Mississippi Valley State 3 (5)
Saturday
Game 3: (4) Alabama 10, Texas 1 (6)
Game 4: Mississippi Valley State 1, Tennessee-Chattanooga 0; Tennessee-Chattanooga (30-24) eliminated
Sunday
Game 5: Mississippi Valley State (38-15) vs. Texas (39-19), noon
Game 6: (4) Alabama (49-9) 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 3, Massachusetts 1
Game 4: Sacred Heart 3, Cornell 1; Cornell (42-13) eliminated
Game 5: Massachusetts 8, Sacred Heart 0 (5); Sacred Heart (26-28) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: (3) Washington (43-10) vs. Massachusetts (40-9), 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: (14) Georgia Tech 4, Auburn 1
Game 4: Boston University 3, Iowa 1; Iowa (42-16) eliminated
Sunday
Game 5: Boston University (42-17) vs. Auburn (30-28), 10:30 a.m.
Game 6: (14) Georgia Tech (43-13) 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 7, Kentucky 2; (11) Ohio State (47-9) advances, Kentucky (34-23) eliminated
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 4, North Carolina 2; (6) Georgia (42-10) advances; North Carolina (47-13) eliminated
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 2: North Dakota State 1, (7) Oklahoma 0 (11)
Game 3: North Dakota State 3, Tulsa 2
Game 4: (7) Oklahoma 21, Arkansas 2 (5); Arkansas (27-29) eliminated
Game 5: Tulsa 5, (7) Oklahoma 3; (7) Oklahoma (41-16) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: North Dakota State (37-18) vs. Tulsa (40-16), 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 10, (10) Arizona State 2 (5)
Game 4: Cal State Fullerton 8, San Diego State 2; San Diego State (33-20) eliminated
Game 5: (10) Arizona State 7, Cal State Fullerton 0; Cal State Fullerton (30-21) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: Louisiana State (34-16-1) vs. (10) Arizona State (42-17), 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 2: Missouri 5, Illinois 1
Game 3: Missouri 2, Bradley 1
Game 4: (15) DePaul 6, Illinois 0; Illinois (29-17) eliminated
Game 5: (15) DePaul 2, Bradley 1; Bradley (26-28) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: Missouri (47-9) vs. (15) DePaul (39-13), 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: (2) UCLA 4, Fresno State 2
Game 4: Long Beach State 3, UNLV 1 (13); UNLV (31-21) eliminated
Game 5: Fresno State 12, Long Beach State 2; Long Beach State (35-21) eliminated
Sunday
Game 6: (2) UCLA (43-9) vs. Fresno State (38-19), 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
(11) Ohio State (47-9) at (6) Georgia (42-10)
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