EDITORS NOTE: Make sure to watch GatorCountry’s video of players and Coach Walton in post game; Video at the end of the story.

SPECIAL TO GATOR COUNTRY

Gainesville, Fla. – The University of Florida Gators softball team defeated Liberty University, 11-0 (5 innings), on a cold Friday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Florida’s first game of the Aquafina Invitational. Florida scored seven of its 11 runs via the home run, and senior Lauren Haeger pitched a one-hit shutout to give the Gators their 12th consecutive win to open the season.

Kelsey Stewart and Kirsti Merritt drew back-to-back walks to start the home half of the first, and both moved up on a Liberty throwing error before an illegal pitch brought Stewart home for the game’s first run. The Gators erupted for six runs in the third, with all six coming by way of the home run. UF loaded the bases with one out following two walks, a hit-by-pitch and a fielder’s choice to set up a grand slam to left field by Taylore Fuller. Nicole DeWitt singled up the middle on the next play before Kayli Kvistad extended the lead to 8-0 with a two-run homer to right-center.

Haeger helped herself in the fourth as she led off the frame with a solo home run, raising the Gator lead to nine. Florida added two more runs in the frame – the first when pinch-runner Justine McLean scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Kvistad, and the second Fuller singled and then scored on a base hit by Taylor Schwarz. UF’s senior right-hander then struck out the side to seal the shutout in the fifth.

STARS OF THE GAME

· Lauren Haeger: The Gator pitcher ran her season-opening scoreless streak to 28.0 innings, earning her sixth win of the year and belting her third home run.

· Taylore Fuller: The junior has homered three times in Florida’s last eight games dating back to Feb. 8. UF’s third baseman posted her second multi-hit game and her second multi-RBI game of the year against the Flames.

· Kayli Kvistad: The freshman had four RBI to raise her season total to 12, which is tied for second on the team.

NOTABLES

· Seven of Florida’s 12 wins this season are mercy-rule victories.

· The deciding run scored on the Flames’ illegal pitch in the first, marking the fourth time in 12 games this season that the Gators have earned their game-winning run on an opponent’s miscue.

· The Gators hit multiple home runs in a game for the fifth time this season (also: Feb. 7 vs. Illinois State, Feb. 8 vs. Jacksonville, Feb. 8 at USF, Feb. 14 vs. Iowa).

· Fuller’s grand slam and Haeger’s solo shot were their third home runs of the year, tying them with Merritt and Castro for the team lead.

· The third baseman’s blast marked UF’s first grand slam of the season.

· Fuller now has five grand slams in her career and a team-best four since the start of last year.

· The Trenton, Fla., native set a season-high with four RBI.

· Kvistad drove in three runs, marking the third time in her 10 appearances that she has had three or more RBI.

· In the six games she has started in the circle this season, Haeger is hitting .538 (7×13) with eight runs scored, a double, two home runs and seven RBI.

· The right-hander also recorded 10 strikeouts for the second straight start.

WALTON’S WORDS

On Florida’s offensive performance tonight:

“I thought our bats were good, even early. The results of our at-bats weren’t as polished in the first few innings. I thought later on once we had the second time through [the order] with the Nos. 6 and 7 hitters, DeWitt and Kvistad, we really got things going.”

On Kvistad’s production during limited playing time:

“We’re going to give her as many at-bats as we can. Hopefully we’ll get her some good at-bats in the next few weeks to really challenge her and see what she can do before we get into SEC play. I’m very happy with her approach – she made an adjustment this week in practice. I’m happy with the way she swings the bat. The intent she has behind her swings is really good.”

On Haeger’s hot start to the season in the circle and at the plate:

“I don’t think she’s doing anything different – her work ethic is probably the only thing I can say. She’s really motivated herself to work a lot better between starts pitching-wise and between games hitting-wise. Her work ethic is a lot smarter. She is putting a little more time in in both areas, and with that comes quality results. She’s an All-American-type player for a reason. She is seeing her senior as an opportunity, not as counting down the days [until the end of her UF career]. It’s really fun to watch her.”

– Florida Head Coach Tim Walton

FLORIDA PLAYER QUOTES

Senior Pitcher Lauren Haeger

On pitching a one-hit game:

“I just try to make quality pitches regardless of who we’re playing, when we’re playing, [or] what [the temperature] is out here. I just make quality pitches and hit my spots to get us in and out of the dugout and just keep the game going.”

Junior 3B Taylore Fuller​

On her grand slam:

“My first at-bat, I was trying to pull the ball a little too much; I just tried to drive it through the middle and it happened to work for me.”

On Florida’s successful at-bats:

“We made adjustments in the box real quick. The first time in the lineup, it’s always our job to convey the information we see to the next batter and try to give them a better chance if we didn’t get on base [in] that at-bat.”

UP NEXT

The Aquafina Invitational continues Saturday, when Florida will face Illinois State at noon (all times Eastern) before a clash with Kansas at 2:15. WGGG (1230-AM)<http://www.floridasportstalk.fm/> will have the radio broadcast for both games with Adam Schick (play-by-play – Game 1), Corey Brooks (play-by-play – Game 2) and Megan Bush (analysis) on the call. In addition, live stats links can be found on the schedule page<http://www.gatorzone.com/schedule.php?sport=softb> on GatorZone.com.