Florida softball eliminated in NCAA Super Regionals
Florida has only failed to make the Women’s College World Series five times since coach Tim Walton took over the program in 2006.
Georgia has kept Walton’s team from Oklahoma City twice. The Bulldogs swept the Gators in the NCAA Super Regionals 4-0 in Game 1 Friday and 6-0 Game 2 Saturday.
UGA’s pitcher Mary Wilson Avant threw every pitch through two games and silenced Florida on the scoreboard. The Gators only recorded seven hits and struck out 13 times against Georgia’s ace.
“Whatever pitch she wanted, it felt like she could throw,” Florida coach Tim Walton said, according to The Gainesville Sun. “She probably touches more spots in the zone than any other pitcher we’ve faced all season. I thought our swings were good today, definitely a lot better than they were last night.”
It didn’t matter who Walton sent out to the circle whether it was senior Natalie Lugo, junior Elizabeth Hightower or fifth-year Katie Chronister. Georgia slammed five homers off of Florida’s staff.
Georgia’s Jaiden Fields, the younger sister of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields, earned two dingers.
The Gators only suffered 11 losses this season, but Avant was the winning pitcher in three of Florida’s defeats. It also took two out of three games against the Bulldogs earlier this season.
Georgia limped into the postseason. It lost its last seven regular-season games and collected a 7-17 record in SEC play. The Bulldogs have now rattled off five straight wins and have ousted No. 13 Duke and No. 4 Florida.
Walton and his program will have to say goodbye to fifth years Chronister, Kendyl Lindaman and Jaimie Hoover. Lugo and her classmate Hannah Adams said after the game that they will use the fifth year of eligibility granted by the NCAA.
“We had a fantastic season, played really well,” he said. “We lost one series all year long. Unfortunately, we picked the wrong series to lose. Overall, it was more Georgia and less us. They just did a much better job competing this weekend than we did.
“But I am proud of our team. They’ve accomplished a ton. We had some huge growth in our program. So really proud of what we’ve built here and the consistency. Disappointed that we’re not advancing, but I’d much rather get beat than beat myself. And they beat us.”
