Florida won its fourth consecutive Southeastern Conference series with tonight’s win over LSU.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 10th-ranked Florida softball team took the series over No. 5 LSU, 6-5 (8 innings), in walk-off fashion Monday evening at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The game was the second consecutive extra inning game of the season and it was the first walk-off of the year for the program.
The Gators (34-6 9-3 SEC) were able to come back and defeat the Tigers (31-6, 9-6 SEC) after trailing 5-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. That home half of the inning started with a five-pitch walk drawn by Jocelyn Erickson, which was followed by Reagan Walsh’s single through the left side off LSU reliever Sydney Berzon (14-3).
Katie Kistler loaded the bases with no outs and a fielder’s choice grounder allowed Erickson to score from third on a throwing error by the Tigers second baseman. The bases remained loaded for Kendra Falby at the top of the order and Falby rocketed the first pitch offered to the wall in left center that cleared the bases for a three-RBI triple that tied that game.
Ava Brown (14-2) provided a gutsy effort in relief of starter Keagan Rothrock as she stifled the LSU offense, which allowed for the extra inning thriller. This time however it was the Orange and Blue that prevailed in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Designated player Brook Barnard provided the spark as she worked an eight-pitch full-count walk with two outs on the board to turn the lineup back over to the top with Falby and Wallace waiting. Falby struck early in the count again and doubled down the right field line to advance the pair to second and third, which then brought Wallace to the plate.
Wallace fell behind 0-2 in the count and swung at the third offering that went in the dirt, but her situational awareness prompted her to race down to first base and her speed forced LSU’s catcher to over throw the first baseman and Barnard scored the game winning run easily from third base.
The Gators will remain at home for a solo nonconference contest Wednesday, April 10, against USF at 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
Notables:
* The Gators improved to 39-37 in the all-time record book over the Tigers.
* The series win is the third consecutive series win over LSU at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
* Ava Brown and Keagan Rothrock are the first set of freshman pitchers in program history to each at least have 14 wins in their freshman season.
* Tonight’s walk-off was the first of the season and it’s the first extra inning win of the season.
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