Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Florida softball team clinched the series over Arkansas with an 8-0 victory in five innings during game two Saturday, April 1. The Gators plated eight runs on seven hits while the team only left one runner stranded on the day.
The Gators (32-2, 9-1 SEC) offense stayed poised and precise for the entire duration of the contest and struck early when Kayli Kvistad singled up the middle to score Amanda Lorenz. Kvistad, a 2016 second team NFCA All-American, finished the day going 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBIs.
Freshman Jordan Roberts continued her impressive inaugural collegiate campaign with a 1-for-2 day at the plate, which included a SAC fly in the first that scored Nicole DeWitt and an errant throw up the line sailed into the Arkansas (22-11, 2-9 SEC) dugout, which allowed fellow freshman Jaimie Hoover to score from second base.
Hoover’s production continued to rise as she drove in her 35th RBI of the season on a fielder’s choice to second base that resulted in DeWitt crossing home plate.
Florida put the game away in the top of the fifth inning thanks to a pair of timely hits from Kvistad and Roberts. Kvistad ripped her third single of the game to score senior Justine McLean and Roberts unloaded the bases with her team-leading sixth home run of the season. The three-run home run pushed her to her ninth multi-RBI game of the year and her second four RBI game.
Senior Delanie Gourley (12-2) was just as efficient and effective in the circle as she only allowed a pair of Razorback hits in her seventh shutout of the season. The 2016 NFCA First-Team All-American, struck out six Arkansas batter and issued no free passes on just 56 total pitches, 41 of which went for strikes.
Coaches Corner
On the team’s presence at the plate during today’s game…
“I thought we were very efficient today – obviously with our ability to hit with runners in scoring position but we’re also dynamic with other parts of our offense like being able to hit and run, steal and put down bunts. We were able to do a lot of things efficiently today both offensively and defensively. Delanie (Gourley) pitched a good game and kept everybody in the ball game. It was a very, very fast pace.” – Tim Walton