The Gators secured the series Friday evening, but fell in the series finale Saturday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 15th-ranked Florida softball team fell to No. 19 Auburn, 7-0, Saturday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The program also continued their campaign to bring awareness to those affected by pediatric cancer with its annual Yellow Game.
The Gators (28-10, 6-6 SEC) and the Tigers (19-12, 7-5 SEC) squared off for the final time of the series as AU relied on its game one ace Maddie Penta (17-4) to go against UF right-handed starter Samantha Bender (1-1).
Auburn took the lead for the first time of the series in the top of the 1st inning after a leadoff walk and single up the middle put two on with no outs. Bender bounced back to force a foul out to Avery Goelz at first, but a single to center
field and a three-run home run forced Florida to bring Lexie Delbert out of the bullpen down 4-0.
The three hits in the opening frame would be the only ones allowed by the Gators for the rest of the game, because once Delbert took over, the Bainbridge, Ga. native hurled 6 2/3 inning of no-hit softball. The sophomore struck out a season-high eight batters, which also tied the team’s season high of eight strikeouts, and worked around four walks and a pair of hit by pitches.
The Tigers did extend their lead in the top of the 7th inning after a pair of defensive miscues with two outs resulted in three unearned runs that pushed the score out to 7-0.
Overall, Florida collected four hits, in addition to a pair of walks, and was able to put the leadoff batter on base five of the seven innings. Skylar Wallace, Kendra Flabby and Pal Egan went 1-for-3, while Sam Roe was 1-for-2 with a triple and a walk.
Florida will take the field at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium next against UNF this upcoming Wednesday, April 12, at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Notables:
* Lexie Delbert notched a season-high eight strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of relief and did not allow a hit or an earned run.
* The eight strikeouts are also tied for the team’s season-high in strikeouts.
* Sam Roe notched her second triple of the season with down the right field line in the bottom of the 5th inning.
* Skylar Wallace went 1-for-3 and has now reached base safely in 33 of the 34 games she has played this year.
* The Gators turned their 18th double play of the season in the top of the 2nd inning.
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