May 11, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. –Top-seeded Florida erupted for 10 runs on nine hits to claim a 10-4 win over No. 3 seed Missouri in the title game of the 2013 Southeastern Conference Tournament on Saturday evening in front of 2,509 fans at John Cropp Stadium. With the win, the Gators have claimed both the regular season and tournament crowns. The victory also ensures Florida a spot in the NCAA Tournament as the league’s automatic berth.
Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium saw 12,043 fans enter through the gates during the tournament to set a new single-tournament attendance record.
Florida’s bats sparked the dominating victory as four different players logged a pair of RBI in the win. The MVP of the tournament, Kirsti Merritt, smoked a two-run homer and came around to score twice to lead the way.
Missouri claimed the early advantage with a run scored in each of the first and second innings before Florida knotted the score at two apiece on Merritt’s homer in the home half of the second frame. From there, the Gators would plate two runs in the third and fourth innings for three-straight multiple run innings. The scoring didn’t end there, as UF scored one in the fifth and three in the sixth.
Lauren Haeger earned the win in the circle, while Hannah Rogers secured her fourth save of the season.
The selection show for the 2013 NCAA Tournament will air live on ESPNU at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday as a number of SEC teams will await their fates as at-large bids.
Visit UKathletics.com/secsoftball for the most up-to-date information on the 2013 SEC Softball Tournament hosted at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Ky.
