Florida 6, Alabama 3: Gators claim first national championship in softball

Florida finished it.

The Gators took down Alabama, 6-3, in Game 2 of the 2014 Women's College World Series championship series, completing a 2-0 sweep of the Crimson Tide to earn the first national championship in softball in the school's history. The title comes in the softball program's 18th year of existence.

Kirsti Merritt led the Gators on the night, with a three-run home run and a stellar catch in the top of the seventh inning. Three Gators pitchers — Lauren Haeger, Delanie Gourley, and Hannah Rogers — limited 'Bama to three runs. The Gators outscored the Crimson Tide 12-3 in the championship series, and outscored their NCAA Tournament foes by an amazing 81-10 margin.

The national championship caps Florida's sixth Women's College World Series appearance under Tim Walton in just nine seasons, and serves as the final, crowning jewel for his program, which has annually been one of the nation's best under his guidance.

It is Florida's second national championship of the 2013-14 academic year, following the title won by Florida's gymnastics team in April, and the 33rd national championship won in Florida's athletic history.

It's pretty great to be a Florida Gator, isn't it?