Florida softball starting shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan likes to swing the bat.
But by displaying a combination of patience and grit at the plate, Cahalan delivered the big blow in the Florida Gators 8-0, 5-inning win over Georgia Tech on May 16 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium,
Fighting off seven foul balls in an 11-pitch at bat, Cahalan drilled a 2-2 changeup from Georgia Tech starter Sydnie Watts over the right field wall to give UF a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
“I was just trying to stay on the pitch and hit hard, trying to score with runners on second and third,” Cahalan said, “Just trying to hit it on the right side and do something with it.”
Florida softball coach Tim Walton said the key pitch in the at bat was a take on a 1-2 pitch just on the outside corner of the plate.
“She took that pitch away and the way she took it, I was like, she’s getting better as the bat is going on,” Walton said. “She did a really good job being disciplined for sure.”
It was Cahalan’s 16th home run of the season and first career postseason homer.
“It was a really good A plus at-bat,” Walton said. “She finished it off with a change up over the fence so I think that was a really good thing to see. That pitcher was trying to throw everything she could to get Kenleigh out and she stayed on that pitch and drove it.”
A transfer from Alabama, Cahalan said she’s been worked on plate discipline between her junior and senior year at UF. She’s walked 26 times this season.
“I swing at the first pitch a lot,” Cahalan said. “But I’ve been working on my patience and I’ve been working on my discipline so I’m very thankful I could take it that deep.”
Florida softball SS Kenleigh Cahalan also starts critical DP
Cahalan also started a critical double play in the second inning, catching a line drive from Georgia Tech right fielder Paige Vukadinovich and doubling a Georgia Tech runner of second inning. It would up being a big play, because Georgia Tech loaded the bases later in the second inning. But Florida starter Keagan Rothrock worked out of the jam to keep the game scorless.
“She’s growing,” Walton said. “She’s playing better defense. She’s playing better offense, She’s learning how to drive the ball a little better. Her home run numbers are up, her RBIs are really high.
“She just turned 21, I know that sounds like an older player but in this day and age, she really should be a junior. She’s just getting better and better with time, and give her a lot of credit. She’s a hard worker, being able to take and trust what she does in practice to the game because that’s the hardest thing to get kids to do is to trust their process.”
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: SS Kenleigh Cahalan delivers in Florida softball regional win vs Ga Tech
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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