Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE – The No.8-ranked Florida softball team closed out the Bubly Invitational Sunday with a pair of victories over Southeastern Louisiana, 13-1 (5), and Florida A&M, 2-1 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators (11-1) pounded out 15 hits, the first time since Feb. 16, 2019 against San Diego, in the victory over the Lady Lions (8-3). Sophomore Charla Echols tied her career-high in hits and runs scored going 4-for-4 with three runs to pace Florida at the plate, while junior Hannah Adams (3-for-4), Jordan Roberts (2-for-3) and Sophia Reynoso (2-for-3) each tallied multi-hit games.
In the circle, freshman Rylee Trlicek hurled 5.0 shutout innings and struck out three to improve to 4-0 on the season. Danni Farley chipped in 0.2 of an inning and senior Katie Chronister closed out the final 1.1 innings.
Florida fell behind early, 1-0, in the second game of the afternoon against the Lady Rattlers (0-10) via a solo home run off sophomore Elizabeth Hightower in the first frame. However, despite the early deficit, Hightower settled in the circle to throw 4.0 innings for the Gators and hurled six strikeouts, while allowing only one additional hit and a walk.
Adams blasted her first home run of the season to tie the game in the 3rd inning and Roberts gave the Gators the lead, 2-1, with her RBI single to center field. In addition, Lindaman, Echols and Baylee Goddard each notched a hit in the effort.
Junior Natalie Lugo entered in relief in the 5th inning and shut the door on the Lady Rattlers en route to her second save of the season. Lugo’s perfect 3.0 innings of work included five strikeouts on just 33 pitches.
How It Happened – Southeastern Louisiana – W, 13-1 (5 Innings)
| Inning | Score | Play |
| B-1st | 1-0 | With the bases loaded and one out, Cottrill pushed across Lindaman with an RBI walk. |
| B-1st | 4-0 | Roberts cleared the bases when ripped a double to left center field. Cottrill, Goddard and Echols all scored on the play. |
| B-1st | 6-0 | Lindsey kept the rally going with her two-RBI single up the middle that scored Roberts and Caraway. |
| B-1st | 8-0 | Echols capped the scoring in the 1st inning with a two-RBI single through the right side of the Lady Lions infield. |
| B-3rd | 9-0 | Echols drove in Lindaman in the 3rd inning after the duo produced back-to-back doubles to lead off the frame. |
| B-3rd | 10-0 | Cottrill drove in Echols with an RBI single to left center field to extend the Gators lead out even further. |
| T-4th | 10-1 | Bodin spoiled the shutout in the 4th inning with her solo one-out home run off of relief pitcher Danni Farley. |
| B-4th | 11-1 | Goddard pushed the Gators lead back out to 10 runs, when she was hit by the first pitch offered from Wright to score Adams. |
| B-4th | 12-1 | Cottrill plated pinch-runner Jordan Matthews via her fielder’s choice grounder to second base. |
| B-4th | 13-1 | The Gators capped the scoring in the game as Roberts drove in Echols on a deep double to left center field. |
How It Happened –Florida A&M– W, 2-1
| Inning | Score | Play |
| T-1st | 1-0 | Stoudamire broke open the scoring in the final game of the Bubly Invitational with a solo home run in the first frame. |
| B-3rd | 1-1 | Adams tied the game when she lifted the 2-0 pitch offered from Zenteno over the right field wall. |
| B-3rd | 2-1 | Roberts gave the Gators the lead with her RBI single up the middle of the Lady Rattlers infield to score Echols from second. |
Standout Statistic
- Kendyl Lindaman extended her hit streak out to 11 games, which broke her career long hit streak of 10 that lasted from March 12-April 1, 2017.
- The only game this season she hasn’t picked up a hit in was the season opener against Illinois State.
- The streak is tied for the fifth longest produced by a Florida senior and it’s also tied for 13th all-time.
- Senior Hit-Streaks
- 20 Games – Megan Bush – Feb. 25 – March 25, 2011
- 16 Games – Melissa Zick – April 14 – May 10, 2007
- 13 Games – Aja Paculba – Feb. 11 – March 4, 2011
- 12 Games – Francesca Enea – Feb. 19 – March 7, 2010
- 11 Games – Ashley Boone – Feb. 16-24, 2001
- 11 Games – Kendyl Lindaman – Feb. 8-16, 2020
- Senior Hit-Streaks
- Lindaman also hit .450 on the week (9-for-20) with five runs, two doubles and three RBI.
Notable Notes
- The Gators improved their all-time records against Southeastern Louisiana, 2-0, and Florida A&M, 21-0.
- Florida outscored the Bubly Invitational field of opponents 41-2 and improved to 41-0 all-time against this year’s invitational field.
- Adams & Echols led the Gators this week at the plate as the duo both hit above .500.
- Adams went 10-for-19 (.526) with eight runs, four RBI, a double and a home run.
- Echols hit 11-for-21 (.524) with nine runs, 11 RBI, two doubles and two home runs.
- As a team, Florida hit.400 (64-of-160) with 11 doubles, five home runs and 51 runs scored over the seven game stretch.
- The 15 hits against SLU is the first game of at least 15 hits this season and it’s the first time since Feb. 16, 2019 against San Diego.
- Charla Echols, Hannah Adams and Kendyl Lindaman have all reached base safely in every game so far this season.
Next Up
Florida turns around for midweek contest against Jacksonville Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The game will be streamed online via SEC Network+ with Kyle Crooks and Francesca Enea in the booth on the call.