A special report from the UAA on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The sixth-ranked Gators were poised to sweep No. 9 Kentucky with a rally in the bottom of the 7th inning, but the Wildcats managed to escape Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in extra-innings with a 4-2 (9) victory Sunday afternoon. The Gators clinched the series 2-1 with wins on Friday and Saturday.
Florida (17-2, 2-1 SEC) staged a comeback in the 7th inning after the team fell behind 2-0 in the 1st inning to Kentucky (20-2, 1-2 SEC). UK was able to pick up a two-run home run from Erin Coffel to take the early lead.
A pitcher’s duel ensued between starters Elizabeth Hightower and Autumn Humes up until the final frame of regulation.
In the 7th inning the Gators staged a rally which was initiated by senior Hannah Adams’ solo home run off of reliever Miranda Stoddard. Adams belted a leadoff solo home run over the left center field wall to cut down the Wildcats lead to 2-1.
Charla Echols followed Adams’ home run with a single to left center and Avery Goelz punched through a base hit through the left side with one out to continue the rally. Kentucky forced a popup to the circle for the second out of the inning to slow down the rally, but the Gators weren’t finished fighting.
Jordan Matthews stood patient in the box and drew a walk after she worked a 3-1 count to load the bases for pinch-hitter Emily Wilkie. During Wilkie’s at-bat a diving pitch to the inside hit the dirt and ricocheted off of catcher Kayla Kowalik’s foot, which allowed pinch-runner Katie Kistler to race home and tie the game 2-2.
Both Goelz and pinch-runner Sarah Longley advanced to second and third on the pitch to set up the potential late-inning heroics for the freshman Wilkie.
Wilkie worked a full-count at the plate and looked for a pitch she could drive. The Cumming, Ga. native found one and roped a shot to the gap in left center field only to have it robbed by a diving Rylea Smith who ranged over from her left field position.
In extra-innings, Kentucky found the break it needed to secure the win. Renee Abernathy led the top of the 9th inning with a walk, which was then followed by a SAC bunt compounded by a throwing error by the Gators defense to put runners on second and third with no outs.
The Gators opted to bring in Katie Chronister for reliever Natalie Lugo (4-1) and turned to a five-person infield in an attempt to get out of the jam. Chronister forced a groundout from Tatum Spangler for the first out, but Smith was able to find a hole in the next at-bat to plate the go-ahead run.
Kentucky tacked on one more run via an infield error to push the lead out to 4-2.
The Gators attempted one more rally in the home half of the inning as Kendyl Lindaman drew a one-out walk to bring the tying run to the plate, but Autumn Humes (9-1) foiled the effort and forced back-to-back popups to end the game.
The Gators return to action Tuesday, March 16, with an exhibition contest against Team USA at 6 p.m. ET on the SEC Network+. Gator Greats Michelle Moultrie, Kelsey Stewart and Aubree Munro will return to KSP Stadium to play while preparing for the Tokyo Olympics.