Coming into the weekend, the third ranked Florida Gator softball team hadn’t swept an SEC opponent all season. That quickly changed as the Gators dominated South Carolina in a double-header on Saturday, winning 19-0 and 16-3. Gator senior Lauren Haeger stated that the team was eyeing a sweep from the beginning.
“I mean, of course we wanted a sweep. We always do. So, we really just wanted to buckle down, get a sweep, get it for the first time, and it feels really good just because we were hitting well, we played great defense, and pitching very well.”
The Gators improve their record to 36-4, 8-4 in the SEC. Florida totaled 45 runs over the three games, the most in program history over a three-game series. The offensive explosion was led by Haeger, who smacked three homers while driving in 10 runs. Haeger is just one home run away from tying Megan Bush’s record career home run record. The senior does not want to solely think about the record.
“I honestly don’t (think about it)…I’m really just trying to get my swing back on track.”
A player that has emerged recently as a major offensive threat is freshman Kayli Kvistad. The first baseman drove in five runs with a home run on Saturday. Dating back to the second game against Mississippi State last weekend, Kvistad has been placed in the heart of the order in the three and four spot and has flourished. Haeger has taken notice.
“She’s been coming around very nicely. She’s been hitting the ball really hard. She’s been getting a lot of RBIs. Just what we needed her to do, go up there and take her hacks, get her at-bats, get her used to college and where she should be in the lineup.”
The Gators have Sunday off and will hit the road Wednesday to face rival Florida State. The game at Tallahassee will begin at 6 p.m.
For full audio clips of quotes above, click below:
Haeger saying the Gators wanted the sweep from the beginning
Haeger does not want to think of the home run record