Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 5-seed Florida topped Boise State 5-0 on Sunday afternoon to advance to the 12th Super Regional in program history.
The Gators move to 44-19 in regional play, including 29 shutouts in 44 games since 2006.
For the second time in the regional, the Gators (47-15) jumped out in front the Broncos (36-16), 2-0, in the first inning with a pair of runs. In the previous game Saturday, UF scored six runs in the top of the first inning of Saturday’s against Boise State.
Florida extended its lead to 3-0 in the third. Amanda Lorenz led off the inning with a double in the left center field gap and moved around to third when Kendyl Lindaman followed up with a single down the left field line. Lily Mann entered the game to pinch-run for Lindaman and worked her way into scoring position with a stolen base.
With one out on the board, Jordan Roberts notched her third SAC fly of year when she drove in Mann on a deep fly to left field.
The first home run of the regional for the Gators came in the bottom of the fourth from junior Jaimie Hoover. Hoover sent the 1-0 pitch offered from Broncos starter Kelsey Broadus (15-7) off the roof of the UF bullpen in left field to run the lead out to 4-0.
Freshman Cheyenne Lindsey picked up her third-consecutive base hit as a pinch-hitter in the fifth to score Reynoso and give the Gators a 5-0 lead.
How It Happened – Boise State – W, 5-0
| Inning | Score | Play |
| B-1st | 1-0 | With runners on second and third, Amanda Lorenz raced home for the game’s first run on a wild pitch by Broncos starting pitcher Kelsey Broadus. |
| B-1st | 2-0 | Sophia Reynoso placed 0-2 pitch from Broadus into left field to score Lindaman from third and extend the Gators lead. |
| B-3rd | 3-0 | Jordan Roberts put UF ahead by three runs when she produced a SAC fly to deep left field to score pinch-runner Lily Mann. |
| B-4th | 4-0 | The Gators produced their first home run of the regional with a solo home run over the left field wall by Jaimie Hoover. |
| B-5th | 5-0 | Pinch-hitter Cheyenne Lindsey plated Sophia Reynoso with a hard-hit single back to the circle. |
Notable Notes
- Florida improved to 44-19 overall in NCAA Regional play with today’s win.
- The Gators have outscored opponents 142 to 24 and have posted 29 shutouts over 44 games since 2006.
- Kelly Barnhill picked up six strikeouts in this afternoon’s game against Boston U. and now has 329 strikeouts on the season.
- Barnhill is currently chasing the single-season record of 363 set by Stacey Nelson (2006-’09).
- Amanda Lorenz produced her 23rd multi-hit game of the season after she went 3-for-4 at the plate.
- It’s only the fifth game this season that she has recorded three hits.
- After going 1-for-3 at the plate, Hannah Adams is now 10-for-25 (.400) over a nine-game span since May 4.
- Jaimie Hoover ripped her seventh home run of the year in the bottom of the fourth inning.
- It’s her first home run since April 26, at Auburn.
Quotes
Tim Walton
Opening Statement:
“First off, want to say congratulations to all of the teams in our regional. It was a really good competitive regional, very fun games to play in. Congrats to Boise State for not only making it into the tournament, but winning their first regional contest in program history. We put up a great fight today, really proud of our kids. Kelly did a great job, so did Amanda, but it is hard for me to single any one person out – that is the best part about sitting up here today, how all of our players competed and how well they performed. Big moments today for Hoover, Roberts, Adams – I could just go on and on. Proud of the way we were able to turn the page and play our best softball in the postseason. Thank you again to our crowd – it is really impressive to have people come out and support our team. Our fans perform at such a high level – hydrate and get yourselves ready for next week as well.”
Kelly Barnhill
On mixing in more pitches today:
“I was throwing more rise balls today, which haven’t been working in the last couple of days, so we were just trying to hammer it out to feel good. I wasn’t able to spot up my fast pitches as well today, but that seemed to have worked out in our advantage.”
Amanda Lorenz
On the crowd today:
“It was awesome – they were hyped the entire time. Right from when we walked onto the field after Boise State and Stanford finished playing on Friday afternoon, they were already excited and on their feet doing Orange & Blue. It is fun to see them get so hyped and cheer us on.”
Next Up
- The Gators head to their 12th Super Regional in program history
- UF holds a 19-7 record in NCAA Super Regional play
- Florida plays host to the winner of Tennessee/North Carolina next weekend at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium