OXFORD, Miss – Stacey Nelson pitched her first career no-hitter as No. 1 Florida defeated Mississippi, 4-0, Sunday afternoon at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.
The senior right-hander from Los Alamitos, Calif., improved to 14-2 on the season, striking out seven while allowing one walk and hitting another batter. The victory improved Nelson’s career record to 109-33, tying her for 25th place on the NCAA’s all-time wins list with Arizona’s Jennie Finch.
In winning their 16th straight game, the Gators improved to 27-2 overall and 8-0 in the Southeastern Conference. They shut down the Rebels (11-12, 0-6 SEC) in sweeping the weekend series, outscoring them 18-0 and outhitting them 22-9.
Sophomore Aja Pacubla led the way for coach Tim Walton’s Gators at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base.
Florida got on the board quickly as sophomore Kelsey Bruder drew a four-pitch walk with one out in the first. Senior Ali Gardiner doubled off the wall in center, scoring Bruder.
Sophomore Megan Bush added to Florida lead in the top of the fourth with her second home run of the series, a two-run shot that hit the foul pole in left field with junior Corrie Brooks aboard. It was Bush’s seventh homer of the season.
Later in the fourth with two outs, freshman Michelle Moultrie singled and classmate Alicia Sisco followed with another single. Pacubla followed with a double down the left-field line, scoring Moultrie. It was Pacubla’s 20th RBI of the season.
Paculba and Bush hit .500 in the series with Ole Miss. Paculba recorded two doubles and two RBI while Bush hit two home runs and a double with five RBI. Bruder went 4-for-10 with an RBI.
Florida plays host to Florida International in a Wednesday doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.