Despite Florida outhitting South Carolina eight to seven in the contest, SC evened the series 1-1 with UF.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The 10th-ranked Florida softball team dropped game two of the series to South Carolina, 6-2, early Saturday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators (36-10, 11-6 SEC) produced eight hits off South Carolina (30-16, 6-11 SEC) starting pitcher Alana Vawter (13-8), but were only able to scratch across a pair of runs off the graduate transfer.
Florida fell behind in the contest early, 3-0, after a solo home run by Jen Cummings in the top of the third and a two-run home run by Aniyah Black in the top of the fourth. Reagan Walsh was able to close down the lead to 3-1 in the home half of the fourth inning as she ripped her 14th home run of the year over the left field wall.
In addition, UF managed to put pressure on SC by advancing a runner to third base in three of the first four innings, but Vawter was able to escape each time except for Walsh’s solo blast.
South Carolina responded with another two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning to extend its lead out to 5-1. Riley Blampied’s one-out single to center field was followed by a Zoe Laneaux homer to left center. The Gamecocks capped their scoring in the top of the seventh frame with a solo home run to lead off the frame by Denver Bryant.
The Gators attempted a rally and brought the tying run to the on-deck circle in the bottom of the seventh as Kendra Falby reached on a hit and error to lead off the rally. Korbe Otis and Skylar Wallace followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases with no outs, when then brought Jocelyn Erickson to the plate who recorded her 57th RBI of the year via an RBI fielder’s choice that scored Falby from third and closed down the lead to 6-2. The Gamecocks went on to thwart any future rally and ended the game on a flyout double play to right center field.
The two teams will play for the series Sunday, April 21, at 11:30 a.m. with the game airing on SEC Network.
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