Florida will look to even up the series on Friday at 6 p.m.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 8/7 Florida softball team dropped its series opener to No. 22/17 Alabama on Thursday evening, falling to the Crimson Tide at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, 7-4.
The difference in the game a lopsided first inning for Alabama, who plated seven runs on four hits and a pair of fielding errors.
Olivia Miller and Kara Hammock were bright spots for the Gators in the circle, combining for 6.1 scoreless innings.
Miller tossed 4.1 innings, allowing just two hits, while Hammock allowed no hits in two innings of work with a pair of strikeouts.
Kendra Falby had two of Florida’s six hits, the only multi-hit performance for the Gators, going 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI.
It was Falby’s team-best 20th multi-hit performance of the season and her third in the last four games.
Ava Brown’s pinch-hit double in the seventh, her 10th of the season, was Florida’s only hit for extra bases.
HEAR FROM SOPHOMORE LEFT-HANDED PITCHER OLIVIA MILLER…
On what went right in her scoreless relief outing…
“I think I was able to trust in my defense-I have 100% faith in them to be behind me. Believing in our at bats, too, to keep us going throughout the game.”
On her mindset coming into the game after an eventful first-inning…
“I think that just knowing what happens in the past [stays there] so I can go out there and give it my all and trust in my defense, and I think that with going out there in that moment, just focusing on executing my pitches and getting that final out.”
On how she plans to continue to have success in the rest of the season…
“I’m definitely going to keep working with coach Stephanie (VanBrakle Protho), keep working with our catchers. Our catchers give great feedback, and I take that into consideration when I am spotting my pitches. So, I’m just going to keep working with them real hard.”
UP NEXT:
The Gators will look to even up the series on Friday at 6 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
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