The 2009 Florida Gators softball team represented the University of Florida softball program for the 2009 NCAA softball season. The Gators compiled an overall record of 63–5 and completed its SEC regular season with a record of 26–1. They finished second in the nation after losing to the Washington Huskies in the WCWS Championship Series. The 2009 team broke the SEC single-season home runs record (86) and several school records including grand slams in a season (12), total shutouts (39), and consecutive shutouts (11). Aja Paculba set the single season stolen base record (27), Francesca Enea broke the career home run record (41), and the Florida pitching staff threw three no-hitters in the regular season (Stephanie Brombacher vs. Coastal Carolina and Stacey Nelson vs. Ole Miss and Arkansas). Stacey Nelson was named the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winner and the SEC Pitcher of the year for the second straight year, and five Gators were given Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American honors. Stacey Nelson was named to the first team (pitcher), and Stephanie Brombacher (pitcher), Francesca Enea (outfielder), Kelsey Bruder (outfielder), and Aja Paculba (second baseman) were named to the second team.
Previous season The 2008 Gators went 70–5 overall and 27–1 in SEC play. The 70 wins set an NCAA single season record and Florida, named the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament, advanced to the semifinals of the Women's College World Series. They also were the SEC regular season and tournament champions. Five Gators were named All-Americans (Stacey Nelson, Kim Waleszonia, Aja Paculba, Francesca Enea, and Ali Gardiner) and Junior pitcher Stacey Nelson was the SEC Pitcher of the Year.
Pre-season With all but one starter from the 2008 team returning, the Gators were voted the pre-season #1.
Schedule
!colspan=9| Lipton Invitational
!colspan=9| Cathedral City Classic
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!colspan=9| Cox Invitational
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!colspan=9| SEC Tournament
!colspan=9| NCAA Regionals
!colspan=9| NCAA Super Regionals
!colspan=9| Women's College World Series
Game notes
Baylor (Game 1) 1234567RHEBears000000-061Gators01110X-340 The season opener for both squads stayed scoreless until the bottom of the 2nd when Francesca Enea, on third base because of a walk and a single from Tiffany DeFelice, scored on a passed ball. Hilberth also scored on a passed ball, this time in the bottom of the 3rd, after singling, stealing second, and advancing to third on an error by catcher Jordan Vannatta. Number 2 hitter Aja Paculba was walked in between strike outs by Kim Waleszonia and Ali Gardiner, and successfully stole second during the latter. She advanced to third on the same passed ball that scored Hilberth, and after Enea was intentionally walked, the Gators attempted a double steal, but caught in a pickle between 3rd and home, Paculba was caught for the final out of the inning. The Gators only other run of the night came on a solo shot from right fielder Kelsey Bruder (graduated senior Mary Ratliff's replacement and only new starter from the previous season).
Baylor threatened in the top of the 4th when Alex Colyer and Courtney Oberg consecutively singled, then both advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Tiffany Wesley. The Gator defense forced a ground out and line out to retire the side.
Baylor (Game 2) 1234567RHEBears000000-012Gators320012-890 The Gators got on the board early when Francesca Enea homered to left field, also bringing home Aja Paculba who was walked and Ali Gardiner who singled. Then, in the 2nd, Corrie Brooks doubled, Megan Bush hit a sacrifice bunt to move her to third, and Michelle Moultrie hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring her home. Center fielder Kim Waleszonia immediately homered, making the game 5–0 in favor of Florida. Two innings later, in the bottom of 5th, Paculba added to the Gators' home run total, bringing the lead to six. Gardiner was hit by a pitch, Lauren Heil (who was pinch running for Gardiner) stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Courtney Oberg. After Kelsey Bruder was walked, Brooks singled and both she and Bruder advanced an extra base as the Bears attempted, but failed to prevent Heil from scoring. In the bottom of the 6th, Alicia Sisco pinch hit for Moultrie and got her first collegiate hit. Paculba doubled to center field to score Sisco after she advanced to second on a walk of Hilberth. Up by eight, the game ended because of the mercy rule.
Baylor never threatened as Gator pitcher Stephanie Brombacher held them to one hit, one walk, and one hit by pitch. She also had 8 strikeouts in 6.0 innings.
Baylor (Game 3) 1234567RHEBears000010-110Gators000000-032 Although the Gators had chances in this game, namely in the bottom of the 1st with two runners in scoring position and 1 out, they were not able to capitalize. The game was methodical for innings two through four, but the top of the fifth saw Baylor take its first lead in the three-game series. Catcher Courtney Oberg singled to left field, left fielder Tiffany Wesley reached on an error by pitcher Stacey Nelson while Oberg's pinch runner made it to third, and she scored after the second error of the inning by shortstop Megan Bush. Nelson quickly forced Meagan Weldon into a groundout to limit the damage to one run. The only offense generated by the Gators after that was a single by Bush in the bottom of the 5th. Nelson took the loss for the Gators.
Jacksonville 1234567RHEGators001028-11101Dolphins000000-020 The Gators bounced back from their first loss of the season, scoring 11 runs in 6 innings. The first scoring of the day happened in the top of the third when Kim Waleszonia, Aja Paculba, and Ali Gardiner had back-to-back-to-back singles, the third of which scored Waleszonia. Two innings later, Megan Bush took a lead-off walk, was moved over to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt by Michelle Moultrie and to 3rd on a groundout by Waleszonia. All the small ball proved unnecessary as Paculba homered to left field, increasing Florida's lead to 3.
The Gators proved that their entire lineup is dangerous at the plate in the top of the sixth. Francesca Enea took first on a hit by pitch to start off the inning, and Brooke Johnson, who was brought in to pinch run, stole second. Tiffany DeFelice was walked, Kelsey Bruder singled to left to score Johnson, Corrie Brooks, Bush, and pinch hitter Kristine Priebe were all consecutively walked to bring in 2 runs, and Brooks scored on a wild pitch. Waleszonia then successfully bunted and Paculba singled to score two more runs and keep the bases loaded. Enea's double brought in Priebe and Waleszonia and put both herself and Paculba in scoring position. After DeFelice singled and Paculba scored, the Bears were able to finally end the inning.
Texas Tech (Lipton Invitational) 1234567RHERed Raiders00000--021Gators2081X--11130 In only 4 innings of offense, the Gators managed to match their season best in runs with 11. In order to breathe some life into the lineup, Aja Paculba moved to the leadup spot and Kim Waleszonia moved behind her. The switch brought instant results in the first inning as Paculba took walk, Waleszonia singled, and Francesca Enea doubled to score them both. After failing to score in the second, Florida repeated their 8-run performance from the Jacksonville game in the third. Waleszonia bunted, and Ali Gardiner homered to start off the inning. Tiffany DeFelice got to first on a walk, and then to third on a double by Kelsey Bruder. Both scored on the follow-up double from third baseman Corrie Brooks. After Megan Bush was hit by a pitch, Hilberth singled to score Brooks, and Paculba singled to score Bush, Waleszonia was able to get on-board and Hilberth scored because of an error on Red Raider third baseman Danielle Matthews. Gardiner's single set the final run of the frame across the plate as a fielder's choice and a 6-2-5 double play would end the inning. The Gators scored in the 4th on a single from Bruder, walk on Brooks, fielder's choices from Bush and Hilberth, and double from Paculba that would allow Brooks's pinch runner to get home.
Stacey Nelson recorded the win for the Gators and only gave up a single hit while walking none, hitting none, and striking out eight. Also, if not for the one hit, Nelson would have pitched a perfect game.
Coastal Carolina (Lipton Invitational) 1234567RHEGators24200--862Chanticleers00000--003 In another mercy-rule-ended game, Florida Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Brombacher threw a no-hitter for the first time in her career.
In the top half of the first, Aja Paculba was walked and stole second, then made it to third on a passed ball, and Kim Waleszonia tripled to score her. Waleszonia scored on a sacrifice fly from Francesca Enea to make it 2–0 in favor of the Gators. In the second, Kristine Priebe hit a 2 RBI homer to center field before Paculba and Waleszonia basically mimicked their performances from the first. Paculba was walked and stole second, but instead of advancing to third on a passed ball, she passed the base on her way home after Waleszonia tripled again. She would get home on Francesca Enea's single. At the start of the third, Kelsey Bruder doubled, and Corrie Brooks was hit by a pitch before they successfully completed the double steal. They would both score on an error by the Chanticleers' shortstop. The game ended after five innings with Florida taking the game 8–0.
Florida Atlantic (Lipton Invitational) 1234567RHEOwls00000--021Gators1840X--13130 The Florida Atlantic Owls managed only two hits against Florida pitcher Stacey Nelson and failed to get any runs on the board. The Gators on the other hand, continued their streak of mercy-rule finishes, beating FAU 13–0. After scoring a single run in the first by way of an Aja Paculba homer, Florida poured it on in the second. Owl pitcher Amber Barton surrendered a leadoff walk that became a run after Megan Bush doubled to center field. After catcher Kristina Hilberth singled and Paculba walked, the bases were loaded for Francesca Enea, who proceeded to knock one over the center field wall for a grand slam. Kristine Priebe followed suit a few batters later, but not before Kelsey Bruder and Corrie Brooks got on base with a walk and a single respectively. The Gators added to their already impressive lead in the bottom of the third after loading the bases again. Hilberth and Paculba singled, and Kim Waleszonia reached on a fielder's choice so that when Ali Gardiner and Enea consecutively singled, two runs scored for the home team. Then Bruder sacrificed herself to bring Waleszonia home, and Priebe singled to do the same for Gardiner.
South Alabama (Lipton Invitational) 1234567RHEGators20164--13130Jaguars00000--011