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For the first time since last year in the NCAA Super Regional against Washington, pitcher Lauren Haeger lost a decision as the top seeded Florida Gator softball team fell to the Tennessee Volunteers in SEC Tournament semifinal in Baton Rouge, 2-1. The Gators are now 50-6 on the year and will be at home watching the Vols take on the Auburn Tigers in the SEC Championship Game.
Haeger did not have a bad game. The SEC Pitcher of the Year only allowed two earned runs off six hits in five innings. The loss snaps her win streak at 24 games, a school record for most consecutive wins without a loss to start a year. Sophomore Delanie Gourley relieved Haeger for two innings and pitched exceptionally, striking out four and only allowing one base runner.
Tennessee’s Erin Gabriel stole the show from the Gators. The junior had her rise ball working all game, striking out 10 in six innings of work; her only crucial mistake was allowign a home run to Taylore Fuller which could have been a game-tying home run if the umpire at first didn’t make a mistake of calling Lauren Haeger out. The entire dynamic of the game would have changed if the umpire didn’t make that mistake.
Rainey Gaffin got the save for the Vols in the seventh. It was Kelsey Stewart’s last opportunity to extend the longest hitting streak of her career of 22 but she failed.
Florida will now have to wait until Sunday to find out its NCAA Tournament seed and regional site. It is most likely the Gators will be hosting a NCAA Regional.
