Gator Softball opens Super Regionals against Arizona State

The Gators are two wins away from returning to the Women's College World Series. Tonight at 7:30pm, The Best Dressed Women In Gainesville face Arizona State in game one of their Super Regional in Gainesville. The Super Regional is a best-of-three.

The No. 4 Gators (46-8) do not have the expectations of the prior two seasons. Maybe, with that weight off their shoulders and the nasty taste of last season's national runner-up, UF can win a National Championship. For No. 13 Arizona State (44-15) they are looking for their fifth straight trip to Oklahoma City.

Each team will only go as far as their pitching will take them. For UF, Stephanie Brombacher (32-6, 1.97) cannot have a poor outing in game one. With a doubleheader scheduled for Sunday, a win Saturday takes some pressure off the Gators, since it is hard to imagine them dropping two games in one day. Brombacher is a very good pitcher, but in four of her losses, she allowed a run or more per inning pitched. She cannot have one of those games this weekend.

The same is true of Hillary Bach (25-7, 2.28) for the Sun Devils. Bach was only 8-6 in Pac-10 play, but 2-0 in the regionals, including allowing only two runs in 11 innings. A sophomore, Bach will be facing the most intimidating environment she has dealt with. 

Sunday's game two will start at 1pm or 3:30pm. Game three, if necessary, would be about three hours later.