Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 6 Florida defeated Bethune-Cookman, 15-0 in five innings, on a chilly Wednesday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators (28-6) shutout the Wildcats (12-23) in a game that was largely dominated by disciplined at-bats and timely hitting from Florida to score 15 runs on 11 hits.
Offensively, nine different Gators recorded a hit, including Jade Caraway (2-for-3, RBI) and Hannah Adams (2-for-2, RBI) who had two hits apiece. Both Caraway and Adams also scored two runs each.
Jordan Roberts (1-for-1) led the team in RBIs with three, while Lily Mann and Amanda Lorenz recorded two apiece.
In the circle, Florida was able to give four different pitchers innings tonight. Kelly Barnhill (18-3) got the start and the win, throwing 3.0 innings and striking out four, with no runs allowed and one walk.
Natalie Lugo, Elizabeth Hightower and Katie Chronister relieved the final two innings for the Gators, combining for four strikeouts, allowing one hit and no walks.
How It Happened – Bethune-Cookman – W, 15-0 (Five Innings)
Inning | Score | Play |
B-1st | 1-0 | The Gators started the game out with a few runs in the first inning and it all got going when a Hannah Adams’ bunt was misplayed by the Wildcats, allowing Caraway to score from first base. |
B-1st | 2-0 | Still with no outs for the Gators, Roberts flew out to right field, but the hit was deep enough to get Adams in for another run. |
B-1st | 3-0 | With one on and one out, Danielle Romanello hit a SAC-fly to right field to score Amanda Lorenz to set the Gators up nicely with an early lead on the Wildcats. |
B-2nd | 5-0 | Getting things rolling for a 10-run second inning, Lorenz doubled to right field to score Caraway and Hannah Sipos, which was only the beginning of a huge inning for the Gators. |
B-2nd | 7-0 | With one out and two runners on base, a Roberts double to left field scored Kendyl Lindaman and Lorenz. |
B-2nd | 8-0 | Following the double, the Gators loaded the bases up. Batters went to the plate disciplined, recording back-to-back walks to bring in runs. This time it was Jaimie Hoover walking in Roberts. |
B-2nd | 9-0 | The following batter, Sipos, walked to score Romanello to give the Gators a nine-run lead with one out in the second. |
B-2nd | 10-0 | Still with only one out, Caraway grounded out to first to advance all the runners, including Sophia Reynoso who scored. |
B-2nd | 11-0 | Now with two outs, Adams hit a hard-double past second base to score Jaimie Hoover. |
B-2nd | 13-0 | Lindaman reached base on an error by the Wildcats’ shortstop which allowed Adams and Sipos to score to give the Gators a 10-run second inning. |
B-3rd | 15-0 | Lily Mann hit a hard single up the middle that scored Alex Voss and Cheyenne Lindsey for a 15-run lead. |
Standout Statistic
- This is Florida’s fourth one-hitter this season and its third combined one-hitter.
- Kelly Barnhill has the lone solo one-hitter this season when she held Washington to one hit on Mar. 1, 2019.
Notable Notes
- Florida improved to 18-2 historically against Bethune-Cookman and 16-1 at home against the Wildcats.
- This is the largest win for the Gators in their 20 meetings with the Wildcats and the 14th shutout by UF in those meetings.
- Lindaman has now reached base safely in 33-straight contests.
- The only game she did not reach safely was the first game of the 2019 season against Illinois State on Feb. 8.
- The 10 runs scored in the second inning were the most the Gators have scored in a single inning since scoring 12 against Florida A&M on Apr. 18, 2018.
- Barnhill improved her scoreless innings streak to 13.0 innings.
Next Up
Florida travels to Oxford, Miss. for a three-game series with No. 22 Ole Miss that begins on Friday at 7 p.m.