Florida Gators Are Back-to-Back National Champs In Softball, Defeat Michigan 4-1
By gatorzone.com // June 4, 2015
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Gators are national champions, once again.
The University of Florida softball team (60-7) is just the third program in NCAA Softball history to win back-to-back national titles, as the Gators downed Michigan (60-8) in Game 1 and Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series Championship Series by scores of 3-2 and x-x, respectively.
The WCWS was played at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
In the 34-year history of the WCWS, 12 different teams have claimed the national title. Florida joins UCLA (2003, 2004 / 1988, 1989, 1990 / 1984, 1985) and Arizona (2006, 2007 / 1996, 1997 / 1993, 1994) as the only three programs to claim NCAA titles in consecutive years.
With tonight’s win, Florida improved to 4-1 this season against the Wolverines.
Coming into the WCWS Championships Series, Michigan had won 28-straight games, but then they ran into the wrecking machine that is Florida softball.
In addition, the 60 wins that the Gators posted this season is the third-highest mark in school history, as UF had win totals of 70 and 63 in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
The back-to-back NCAA titles makes Florida the first school in the Southeastern Conference with two championships, as Alabama won the conferences first crown in 2012.
Since the WCWS Championships Series moved to a best-of-three format, the team who has won Game 2 of the series has become the National Champions.
Until this year.
Overall for the WCWS, Gator senior Lauren Haeger is the third to be named USA Softball National Collegiate Players of the Year and WCWS Most Outstanding Player in the same season.
She joins Danielle Lawrie (Washington 2009) and Keilani Ricketts (Oklahoma 2013).
In addition, the Peoria, Ariz. native is the third Gator to be named WCWS Most Outstanding Player. Michelle Moultrie shared the 2011 honor and Hannah Rogers claimed the 2014 award.
Just a week ago, Haeger was named the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, becoming the first Gator to receive the prestigious honor.
Joining Haeger on the WCWS All-Tournament team is Nicole DeWitt, Aubree Munro and Kelsey Stewart.
