Orlando Sentinel
TALLAHASSEE — DeMarcus Walker’s cruel waiting game is finally over.
The Florida State freshman and Sandalwood High graduate can officially join his teammates in full practices and workouts ahead of preseason camp that opens in August.
In an eight-word announcement Friday afternoon, FSU said Walker had been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse, ending a three-month investigation that forced the early enrollee to miss all spring practice.
Alyssa Bache threw a complete game in leading Florida’s softball team to a 7-1 win over Hampton to open the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Gainesville.
The sophomore (9-0) allowed two hits with one walk and struck out four batters. She did not allow an earned run.
UF, the nation’s second overall seed, fell behind 1-0 after two innings, but the Gators scored four runs in the third inning to take control.
Florida had 11 hits, including home runs by Kelsey Horton and Taylore Fuller.
GAINESVILLE — Florida’s softball team won the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and the tournament title.
That feat would be quite an accomplishment in any sport, but adding to its impressive nature is this fact: The SEC has 11 schools represented in the 64-team NCAA Tournament field. That’s the highest total any conference has ever enjoyed in the NCAAs.
“It shows you the impact the SEC has had,” Florida softball coach Tim Walton said. “The ability to recruit talent, but also to develop it.”
Even though he has two elite pitchers, Florida coach Tim Walton decided to go with door No. 3 Friday night. And Alyssa Bache delivered.
Sparked by the top three players on the individual leaderboard Friday, Florida is in first place after two rounds at the NCAA South Regional in Baton Rouge, La.
Top-ranked Florida easily advanced past No. 15 Duke and into the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships with a 4-0 win Friday.
South Florida advanced to Saturday winner’s bracket game of the NCAA Gainesville Regional with a 1-0 extra-inning win over Georgia Southern.
One of the highest-ranked prospects in Florida’s 2014 class is back on the market.
For Florida’s softball team, the momentum they carry into Friday’s opening round of the NCAA Tournament comes from a day when they didn’t do anything.
Freshman Harrison Bader snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI single in the ninth inning and Florida added an insurance run on a balk to defeat Georgia.