Florida Gators softball sweeps Sunday’s doubleheader

By
Andrew Spivey
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Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:

TAMPA – The No.7-ranked Florida softball team capped the USF-Rawlings Invitational with a pair of victories over Georgia State, 10-0 (5), and host USF, 6-1, at the USF Softball Stadium Sunday afternoon.

The Gators (4-1) hurled 12.2 innings of no-hit softball before the first hit was relinquished in the second game of the day. USF scored in the bottom of the 6th inning with two outs via a solo home run.

In the first game, freshman Rylee Trlicek (1-0, 1 S) dealt her first collegiate no-hitter in the five-inning victory over Georgia State (1-3). The Hallettsville, Texas native’s only base runner allowed was a hit-by-pitch issued in the bottom of the 4th inning with one out.

The left-hander also registered six strikeouts and needed only 67 pitches in the effort to become the first freshman pitcher to throw a no-hitter for the Gators since Kelly Barnhill. Barnhill registered her first collegiate no-hitter against Arkansas May 8, 2016.

Offensively, the Gators bashed four home runs against the Panthers – which ties the single game opening weekend record. UF hit four home runs against Arizona in 2013 and against Florida Gulf Coast in 2011.

The Gators pitching and offense continued to shine in the final game of the tournament against USF. Junior Natalie Lugo hurled 5.2 innings of no-hit softball, but the first hit earned by the Bulls came after a 16-pitch at-bat by the Bulls ace Georgina Corrick.

Lugo forced Corrick to pop up to Roberts behind the plate for the second out, but USF capitalized on the long at-bat and produced a solo home run to break up the no-hitter.

Trlicek closed out the game to earn her first save of the season.

Eight different Gators registered a hit, with senior Jade Caraway going 2-for-3, along with Charla Echols and Jordan Roberts producing two RBIs a piece to pace the team at the dish.

How It Happened – Georgia State – W, 10-0 (5 Innings)

Inning Score Play
T-3rd 1-0 Lindaman opened up the scoring in the 3rd inning via a fly ball to left field that died in the wind and dropped short of the left fielder, which allowed Adams to race home.
T-4th 2-0 Roberts crushed her first home run of the season over the left center field wall to extend the Gators lead.
T-4th 4-0 Caraway followed up with a two-run blast over the right center field wall and plated Matthews, who reached on a hard-hit ball that caromed off the shoulder of the Georgia State shortstop.
T-4th 5-0 Adams stretched the lead out with a RBI double down the left field line that scored Reynoso from second base.
T-5th 7-0 Roberts cranked her second home run of the day with an opposite field shot that scored Echols.
T-5th 10-0 Goddard stroked a three-run home run just inside the left line foul pole to cap the scoring. Goddard’s first career home run scored Reynoso and Taylor.

How It Happened – USF– W, 6-1

Inning Score Play
T-1st 1-0 Matthews opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single to right field that scored Adams from second base.
T-2nd 2-0 With the bases loaded, Caraway poked a single up the middle off of USF reliever Georgina Corrick to score Goddard.
T-5th 4-0 Roberts continued to have a day at the plate as she doubled the Gators lead with a two-run home run to right center field that scored pinch-runner E.C. Taylor.
B-6th 4-1 USF broke up the no-hitter with a two-out solo home run over the wall in left center by
T-7th 6-1 Echols capped her weekend at the plate with a two-run home run to right field that plated Lindaman, who reached earlier via a Bulls error.

Notable Notes

  • Trlicek’s no-hitter was the first thrown by a freshman since Kelly Barnhill achieved the feat against Arkansas May 8, 2016 and is only one of four freshman pitchers to throw a no-hitter in program history.
  • The no-hitter is also only the second opening weekend no-hitter in program history.
    • Lauren Haeger – Wisconsin (2/9/14) – USF Invitational – Tampa, Fla.
  • Florida’s four home runs against Georgia State ties the opening weekend single-game record.
    • 4 – vs. No. 13/14 Arizona (2/10/13) – Kajikawa Classic – Tempe, Ariz.
    • 4 – vs. Florida Gulf Coast (2/11/11) – USF Invitational – Tampa, Fla.
  • Roberts’ multi-homer game was a career-high and first multi-home run game of her career.
    • She now has 25 career home runs as a Gator.
  • Walton secured his 898th career victory in the win over Georgia State and USF. He currently has an overall record of 898-232 in 18 seasons as a head coach.
  • UF is now 2-0 all-time against Georgia State.
  • The program is now 50-13 against USF and have won the last 16 games in the series.

Next Up
Florida now gears up for a nine-game home stand that starts Tuesday, Feb. 11, with an exhibition against Team USA at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.