Gator Country

Senior Megan Bush extended her single-season RBI record to 72 in a series-clinching 6-1 win over South Carolina on Saturday. / Gator Country photo by Tim Casey

After the Florida Gators softball team knocked off South Carolina 5-0 in the series opener Friday night, they met a little resistance in game two Saturday in Columbia.

With the game tied at one in the top of the sixth inning, Florida broke through on a sacrifice fly from senior Megan Bush.

The RBI was Bush’s 71st of the season, setting a new school record for the most in a single season. She added another in the seventh with a single that brought home Michelle Moultrie.

South Carolina struck first in the game with a one-out double in the first inning that scored Sammie Garcia.

Florida Gators senior pitcher Stephanie Brombacher recovered quickly and pitched 4.2 scoreless innings after the early mistake to keep Florida in the game until freshman Hannah Rogers came on to pitch the final three innings.

The Gators drew even in the top of the fifth after a two-out rally loaded the bases. Sophomore Brittany Schutte walked to start the rally, and senior A.J. Paculba quickly singled to put the second runner aboard.

Senior catcher Tiffany DeFelice walked to load the bases, and freshman Cheyenne Coyle was hit by a pitch to bring home Schutte for the tying run. Sophomore Samantha Holle flied out to end the inning.

Florida got really hot at the plate in the top of the sixth inning, scoring four runs to effectively clinch the game and the series.

Bush recorded her sacrifice fly to score freshman Kasey Fagan, and then Schutte blasted a three-run homer in the next at-bat to extend Florida’s lead to 5-1.

The Gators added another run in the top of the seventh to seal the game when Bush recorded her second RBI of the game, bringing home Moultrie with a single to extend the lead to 6-1.

Brombacher gave up three hits and one run in four innings pitched, while Rogers (26-5) picked up the win with one hit allowed through the final three innings.

Florida can sweep the series on Sunday when they take the field at noon against the Gamecocks.

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