May 29, 2010
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With Hillary Bach throwing well through four innings, the 13th-seeded Sun Devil Softball team was unable to get the job done Saturday night as they fell 8-0 (5) to the No. 4 Florida Gators. Bach moves to 25-8 on the year while ASU falls to 44-16 overall and one loss from the end of their 2010 season.
Things looked like they’d get the first run in the game after a lead-off double from Katelyn Boyd looked promising to come home with a single up the middle from Lesley Rogers, but Boyd was called out on runner interference for the first out. Two strikeouts later, Brombacher escaped from the inning unscathed.
The Gators took advantage right in the bottom of the inning though as they were able to put a run on the board with Michelle Moultrie knocking a single through the right side only to be brought home by a Kelsey Bruder double to left field to take the 1-0 lead.
While the Sun Devils kept pace with the Gators and Hillary Bach throwing a gem of a game, being frigid and stingy with both runs and hits, an error in the fourth inning gave the Gators another push as they brought home an unearned run to pull ahead 2-0.
The UF bats couldn’t be tamed forever though as they came to break it open in the fifth inning though after a lead-off triple, a walk and a bases clearing double made it 4-0 with both balls screaming down the right field line. With Sam Parlich in for relief the Gators bit quick with a sac bunt to bring the runner to second before Brittany Schutte demolished a 2-0 pitch all the way to the coast for her 16th home run of the season and giving UF a 6-0 lead.
The nail in the coffin came with the next two batters after Megan Bush drew a walk before Corrie Brooks decided to do some yard work of her own taking the 1-2 pitchers count deep to left center for a two run bomb to cement ASU’s fate.
The Sun Devils will kick it back into gear tomorrow as they set to face the fourth-ranked Gators yet again at 3:30 p.m. ET at Katie Seahole Pressly Stadium with a trip to the WCWS on the line. Should the Sun Devils win, they’d rack it up for another bout with the Gators approximately 30 min after the culmination of their game.