Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators swept Georgia after the team put the finishing touches on the series with a 3-0 victory at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Sophomore Kelly Barnhill struck out 14 Bulldogs for her 15th win of the season.
The 14 strikeouts was Barnhill’s second highest total in a game this season as her highest came in a game against Auburn earlier this year where she sat down 16 batters.
Florida (37-2, 13-1 SEC) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning after the defense made an outstanding play at home plate in the top of the frame. Senior Justine McLean fielded a ground ball up the middle from Sydni Emanuel and gunned down a greedy Cortni Emanuel trying to score the first run.
The throw was on time and in the perfect spot for junior catcher Janell Wheaton to apply the tag and keep Georgia off the scoreboard
With the momentum clearly on the Gators side in the bottom of the frame, junior Kayli Kvistad blistered a two run home run over the right field wall that scored teammate Nicole DeWitt. DeWitt reached earlier via a hit by pitch from Georgia’s pitcher Brittany Gray.
Florida put up the final run of the contest in the sixth inning via a pinch-hit solo home run from senior Chelsea Herndon. It was her third home run of the season and second of the game for Florida.
The Gators will be back in action Wednesday, April 12, when the team hosts Florida State in the Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium at 7 p.m.
Coaches Corner
On the series sweep…
“If you have an opportunity to sweep somebody you have to take full advantage in this league because it’s a tough thing to do. I look around the league all the time and nobody is sweeping anybody because of just how talented the coaches are and how talented the pitching staffs are on every team. So, give our kids credit. I thought our players did a good job, we weren’t our best offensively but I thought we were really good pitching wise this week and that credited to the wins.” – Tim Walton
Notables
· The last time the Gators swept the Bulldogs in a three-game series was 2008 when Florida took a doubleheader (5-0 & 9-5) then closed out the series with a 5-2 victory in Athens.
· Amanda Lorenz extended her reached base streak to 39 games this season.
o Former Gator Kelsey Stewart put a similar streak together when she reached base safely in 41 consecutive games.P