Echols walks off in Gators series opener against Aggies

A special report from the UAA on the Florida Gators softball team:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 4 Florida opened the series against Texas A&M in walk-off fashion as the team took game one, 5-3, Friday evening at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

The Gators (38-8, 17-5 SEC) etched their third comeback victory over the last four games via a walk-off, three-run home run from Charla Echols (2-for-4) in the bottom of the 7^th inning against the Aggies (31-18, 8-14 SEC).

Down 3-2 heading into the final frame of play, Cheyenne Lindsey (1-for-2) drew a leadoff walk from starting pitcher Makinzy Herzog (12-5), which turned the lineup over to the top of the order. Hannah Adams (1-for-3) then followed with a walk to move Lindsey, the tying run, into scoring position.

Herzog managed to induce an infield fly for the first out of the inning, but Echols stepped into the box with an air of confidence that she could come through for the Gators. The Newnan, Ga. native battled to a 2-2 count until she was able to drive the pitch the wanted over the center field wall for her team leading 12^th homer of the year.

The Gators comeback was the largest of the season as the squad was down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the 3^rd inning.

The Aggies were able to scratch across an unearned run in the 2^nd inning on a Kayla Garcia RBI single up the middle and added two more in the following inning thanks to a Bre Warren two-RBI single, also up the middle.

Florida was able to bounce back in the home half of the 3^rdinning and close down the Texas A&M lead to 3-2 via a flurry of hits. Lindsey led off the frame with a double off the diving glove of the Aggies leftfielder and Adams produced a double to left center that scored Lindsey easily from second for the first run.

Kendyl Lindaman (1-for-4) drove in Adams in the next at-bat with an RBI single to right field and the Gators were poised to open up the game as they eventually loaded the bases, but Herzog was able to work her way out of the jam without any further damage.

Texas A&M looked to respond after Florida’s rally with one of their own and was able to put the first two runners on base, but the Gators called Katie Chronister (8-2) out of the bullpen to quell the effort.

Chronister shut down the Aggies offense for the following 4.0 innings as she did not allow a hit, struck out four and issued only two walks in her 18^th relief appearance of the season.

The Gators and the Aggies take the field Saturday at 4 p.m. (ET) for game two of the series at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The game will be streamed live via the SEC Network +.

Notable Notes:

• The Gators hold a 22-5 record all-time against Texas A&M and have won 18 of the last 20 meetings.
• Today’s comeback was the Gators third in the last four games.
  • It’s the largest comeback of the season for the team.
  • It’s the ninth overall comeback win on the year, with seven occurring at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
• Katie Chronister now has pitched 9.0-straight scoreless innings and hasn’t allowed a hit throughout the same span.
  • The last hit and run Chronister gave up was on an RBI double by South Carolina’s Chooch Carroll in the top of the 7^th inning April 25.
  • The Gainesville, Fla. native now sports a 0.36 ERA in 18 relief appearances over 39.1 innings. She has held opposing batters to a .084 average at plate as well.
• Charla Echols turned in 13^th multi-hit game and 12^thmulti-RBI game of the season.
• Echols and Hannah Adams extended their reached base streaks to 28 games and 31 games respectively.
• Echols walk-off home run was the first since Hannah Adams’ walk-off home run against McNeese (Feb. 28, 2021).