Big swings lift Gators over Bulldogs in SEC Tournament

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

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No.1-seed Florida rallied early Thursday afternoon to defeat No.9-seed Mississippi State, 6-2, to advance to the semifinal round of the SEC Softball Tournament at Rhoads Stadium. It’s the program’s 11^th comeback win of the season.

The Gators (41-8) overcame the early 2-0 deficit via a pair of three-run home runs from Kendyl Lindaman (3-for-4) and Charla Echols (3-for-4) to defeat the Bulldogs (33-23). The program is now 4-0 against MSU this season as UF also picked up a three-game series sweep in Starkville, Miss. earlier this season.

Mississippi State was able to jump out in front, 2-0, in the top of the 2^nd inning thanks to a Jackie McKenna two-out double down the left field line. From that moment, Florida right-handed starting pitcher. Elizabeth Hightower buckled down and went on to pitch 2.1 scoreless frames afterwards.

Hightower was eventually relieved by Natalie Lugo (15-2) in the 5^th inning and the West Covina, Calif. native held Mississippi State to just one hit in the final three frames of action.

Florida’s offense struck in the bottom half of the 5^th inning to take the lead 3-2. Freshman Emily Wilkie drew a one-out hit-by-pitch to start the rally, which was followed by Echols’ second hit of the day.
With two on and one out, the stage was set for Lindaman’s 69^th career home run. The Ankeny, Iowa native drove the 3-2 offering from Mississippi State’s Annie Willis (16-9) over the right field wall.

The Gators added insurance runs in the bottom of the 6^th with Echols’ team-leading 14^th home run of the season. Cheyenne Lindsey (1-for-3) and Hannah Adams (1-for-3) produced back-to-back one out singles and Echols drove them in with her three-run shot off reliever Alyssa Loza.

The Gators will play either No.4-seed Missouri or No.5-seed LSU Friday at 4 p.m. (ET) ESPN2.

Notable Notes:

• The Gators earned the No. 1 seed for the SEC Tournament for the ninth time in program history, which is the most among SEC schools.
  • The Gators now hold a 33-27 (.550) record in the SEC Tournament and holds the third best winning percentage among SEC programs in SEC Tournament play.
    • The 33 all-time wins are the third most by any SEC program in the tournament
  • UF’s five SEC Tournament Championships are tied for the most among programs alongside LSU and Alabama.
    • Florida – 2008, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2019
    • Alabama – 1998, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012
    • LSU – 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007
  • The No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament holds a 55-15 record and the Gators hold 17-5 record as the top seed.
  • The Gators, the reigning tournament champs, won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019.
    • No team has won three-straight SEC Tournament Championships.
    • Only three programs have won back-to-back tournament titles and the Gators are the only program to have done it twice.
      • LSU – 2001 & 2002
      • Auburn – 2015 & 2016
      • Florida – 2008 & 2009, 2018 & 2019
• Florida played Mississippi State earlier in the regular season in Starkville, Miss.
  • The Gators swept the Bulldogs 1-0, 10-0 and 8-0 (5) in the three-game series.
  • The program holds a 42-21 record all-time over MSU.
    • The Gators are 2-3 against the Bulldogs all-time in the tournament
      • May 9, 1998 | L, 1-0 | Columbus, Ga.
      • May 10, 1998 | L, 1-0 | Columbus, Ga.
      • May 10, 2001 | L, 1-0 | Chattanooga, Tenn.
      • May 10, 2007 | W, 3-0 | Auburn, Ala.
      • May 13, 2021 | W, 6-2 | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• The Gators have a total of 11 comeback victories on the season, with its largest being a comeback from a 4-0 deficit to Texas A&M in the regular season finale.
  • The program overcame an early 2-0 deficit to MSU in the 2^ndinning.
• The SEC Tournament is the first neutral site games for the Gators this season.
  • UF is now 1-0 in neutral site games.
• Hannah Adams (1-for-3) is now on a six-game hitting streak.
  • The Hoschton, Ga. native has reached base safely in 34 consecutive games. Overall, she has reached base safely in 48-of-49 games played.
• Charla Echols and Kendyl Lindaman turned in their 16^th and 8^th multi-hit games of the year.
  • Echols has reached base safely in 31 consecutive games.
• Kendyl Lindaman belted her 69^thcareer home run and seventh of the season.
  • She ranks 4^th among active NCAA career leaders in home runs.