2009 Florida Gators Softball Season - Game Notes - Lehigh (NCAA Gainesville Regional - Game 6)

Game 6)

In their regional championship game, the Gators turned yet another close game into a rout. Florida got one base runner through the first three innings (a Megan Bush walk in the third) before they made the adjustments against Lehigh pitcher Lisa Sweeney. Kristina Hilberth led off the top of the fourth with a double to left center and moved to third on Ali Gardiner's groundout to second. Francesca Enea scored Hilberth on a double to center field and Kelsey Bruder scored Enea with an RBI single to right field. In the sixth inning, the Gators put the game out of reach. With Aja Paculba on base due to a walk from Sweeney, Hilberth singled, and Gardiner grounded into a fielder's choice that moved Paculba to third. Enea walked to load the bases for Bruder, who singled, scoring Paculba and pinch runner Lauren Heil. After pinch runner Brooke Johnson was thrown out trying to steal, Corrie Brooks hit a two-run homer to clear the bases. The seventh saw lead-off pinch hitter Alicia Sisco start things off with a double to left center and advance to third on pinch hitter Kim Waleszonia's groundout to second. Paculba then hit a single to score Sisco. With two outs, Gardiner and Enea singled, loading the bases yet again for Bruder, who doubled, scoring Paculba and Gardiner. Senior pitcher Stacey Nelson pitched seven scoreless innings for her 19th shutout of the year. She also only allowed three hits, struck out seven, and walked none in a tidy, 72-pitch performance.