Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida softball team completed the series sweep of No. 8 Texas A&M with a 7-3 victory at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Monday evening. It’s the second Southeastern Conference series sweep of the season for UF.
Jordan Matthews broke out to record three RBI after going 1-for-2 at the plate with a run scored and two walks, one of which was intentional.
The patience at the plate for the Gators proved to be fruitful in the first inning as the Aggies issued six walks and one hit. The result was RBI walks by Matthews, Aleshia Ocasio and Hannah Adams, before Sophia Reynoso executed a bunt single to give Florida a 4-0 lead.
Texas A&M struck for its first run in the top of the fourth inning after Samantha Show sent the 1-1 pitch off the left field foul pole for a solo home run.
The Gators responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame via a two RBI single from Matthews. Florida loaded the bases prior to Matthews base hit with a walk from Lorenz, base hit through the left side by Nicole DeWitt and an error by the Aggies.
The Aggies followed up with another pair of runs in the fifth to close to down the Florida lead to 6-3. A pair of walks and base hit loaded the bases with one out, but Barnhill bounced back to record a strikeout for the second out.
Show squeezed a single through the right side of the Gators defense to score Kaitlyn Alderink and Tori Vidales.
Senior Janell Wheaton tacked on the final run of the game via a bases loaded hit by pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pinch hitter Danielle Romanello reached on an error by Kristness Cuyos at shortstop to start the inning. Alex Voss reentered the game to run and was followed up by a four-pitch walk to Amanda Lorenz.
Kayli Kvistad moved the pair into scoring position with her grounder to the right side of the Aggies infield. With a free base open at first, Texas A&M opted to issued Matthews an intentional walk to load the bases for Wheaton.
The Gators will make a quick turnaround to play a doubleheader against FIU Wednesday, Mar. 28, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Walton’s Words
On what the team had to do today to close out the series with a sweep over a Top 10 team…
“Today was a grind. It’s one of the longest games we have played all season long. I think a lot of that attributed to the battles that Texas A&M had at the plate and the battles we had at the plate, but overall I thought the difference in the game was the Jordan Matthews base hit to get two RBIs there late. Also, our patience at the plate with all of the walks that we had tonight. Again, they fought hard and it was a good sweep.”
On what the team needs to do to prepare for FIU during a quick turnaround…
“They’re going to have to get their rest, go to class and do the things they need to do to recover from a long weekend of playing late and with the short week coming back. Hopefully, we can do the things that they need to do to recovr and we’ll reward them with a couple extra days off at the end of the week.
Notable Notes
· The Gators extended their all-time series lead over the Aggies to 16-4.
o Florida remains a perfect 16-0 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium this season.
o The team is now 7-0 on the season when playing on network television.
o UF is now 11-3 on the season against Top 25 opponents.
· Florida scored in the first inning for the 22nd time in 30 games play this season after scoring .
o It’s also the 21st time this season that the Gators scored four or more runs in a single inning.
· Kelly Barnhill struck out the side in the 2nd and registered 10 strikeouts in the game.
o She has now struck out the side 18 times this season.
o Tonight was the eighth time this season that she has recorded 10 or more strikeouts in a game.
· Amanda Lorenz drew a walk in the first inning to extend her reached base safely streak to all 30 games.
o Over her career she has reached base safely in 154 out of 161 games played.