(SB) Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Tend to agree, though I don't think their record would look so gaudy if they had to run the SEC gamut. Their pitching staff is elite and their batting order is brutal. Unless some breaks go against them or they run into a pitcher who is on fire (like when Hannah Rogers put it together for Florida for our 1st national title), OK has to be the clear favorite to repeat.

 

UF softball (39-14) won their first game Friday by beating Mercer 8-3. Lexie Delbrey (13-2) got the win, going 5 innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, 4 walks, a hit batter and 4K's. Rylee Trlicek pitched the final 2 innings, being charged with a run on 3 hits with 3 K's. The offense was led by Kendra Falby, who went 3-4 and 3 stolen bases, Katie Kistler, 2-2 with 4 RBI, Calie Decker, 2-3 with an RBI, and Cheyenne LIndsey, 2-3 with an RBI.
They play Game 2 vs. Florida Gulf Coast at around 7:45.

 

UF softball won their 40th game as they run-ruled FGCU 8-0 in 6 innings. Elizabeth Hightower (13-7) thrw a 2 hitter, with 5 K's and only 1 walk. The offense was led by Avery Goelz, who went 303 with an RBI and 2 runs scored, Charla Echols, who went 3-3 with an RBI, Katie Kistler, who went 2-3 with 2 runs scored, Calie Decker, who went 2-2 with and RBI and a run scored, and Cheyenne Lindsey, who went 2-4 with the game-ending RBI. The only down side of the game was Reagan Walsh, who went 0-3 with 2 errors at SS, as she seems to have totally lost her confidence. The Gators finish their regular season Saturday with games against Mercer and FGCU, starting at noon.

 

Something's going on there. I've been thinking it was just lost confidence. She won the SS job in the fall, then lost it after the season started. She started off hitting really well, but her production has steadily been dropping the last 2 months. She came in a highly rated talent, though. Maybe moving her down in the order might take some pressure off. Decker should move up, IMO.

 

I hit a lot of "Agree" buttons on your comments and observations.

 

UF softball just got beat 3-2 by Florida Gulf Coast, a team that came into the game with 17-33 record, an RPI ranking of #126 and a team that won't even qualify for the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament due to their 9-15 conference record. Natalie Lugo (9-5) started for the Gators and held FGCU hitless through 3 innings, but gave up a HR, single and double in the 4th to put UF down 2-0. They added another run off Rylee Trlicek in the 5th on 3 singles, the last one with 2 outs that could have been ruled an error on SS Skylar Wallace. Meanwhile the Gators were anemic against FGCU's "ace" Ally Hulme (11-13), being held without a hit until the 6th inning. Wallace was hit by a pitch in the 1st inning, but was thrown out trying to steal. Kinsey Goelz was hit by a pitch in the 3rd inning, but was left stranded. Charla Echols walked in the 4th, but was left stranded. Cali Decker and Avery Goelz walked in the 5th, but UF just couldn't deliver with a hit. In the 6th inning, Wallace & Echols led off with back-to-back singles and Cheyenne Lindsey had an RBI sac. fly, but Katie Kistler and Sam Roe could do nothing to get another run across. In the bottom of the 7th, Decker led off with a walk, pinch hitter Emily Wilkie moved her to 2nd on a fielder's choice, Avery Goelz singled to left field and Kendra Falby walked to load the bases. Wallace got an RBI sac. fly, but Echols flied out to right field to end the game. The Gators were outhit 8-3 and stranded 7 base runners in one of their worst losses in recent memory. They finish their regular season around 2:45 against Mercer.