Hightower tallied a complete-game two-hit performance, while Pal Egan drove in all three runs for Florida in the win.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 16th-ranked Florida softball team opened the series against No. 23 Kentucky with a, 3-2, win Friday evening at John Cropp Stadium.
The Gators (35-17, 11-11 SEC) picked up a complete-game, two-hit performance from graduate senior right-hander Elizabeth Hightower (15-10) and graduate transfer Pal Egan supplied the late-game heroics with a game-winning two-run home run in the top of the 7th inning to get the win over the Wildcats (28-19-1, 8-14 SEC).
Hightower’s only two hits relinquished in the game occurred in the 1st inning when Kentucky was the first to break onto the scoreboard in the series opener via a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the 1st inning. Kayla Kowalik placed a one-out infield single up the middle and was driven home on Kennedy Sullivan’s two-out homer to left field to put UK up 2-0 early in the game.
Hightower was locked in a pitcher’s duel with UK starting pitcher Stephanie Schoonover for the next three innings, who only allowed a double to Avery Goelz in the 2nd inning, but Florida chased Schoonover from the circle in the top of the 5th inning of play.
The top of the order consisting of Skylar Wallace, Charla Echols and Reagan Walsh loaded the bases with no outs via back-to-back-to-back walks. Sloan Gayan(1-3) entered the circle to face Egan, who notched an infield single in the 1st inning, drove a SAC fly to center field that scored Wallace from third and closed down the Wildcats lead to 2-1.
The Gators attempted a rally in the top of the 6th inning after Sarah Longley led off the frame with the Orange & Blue’s third hit of the game. Longley’s single down the left field line was followed up by her first stolen base of the year that moved the tying run into scoring position.
However, Gayan was able to force back-to-back flyouts to left before she issued a four-pitch walk to Wallace and ended the threat with a lineout to third base.
Florida rallied late and earned its first lead of the game in the top of the 7th inning thanks to back-to-back extra base hits from Walsh and Egan. Walsh led the inning off with her 10th double of the year with a ground ball down the left field line, which was promptly followed up by Egan’s sixth home run of the year that gave UF the deciding 3-2 lead.
Egan went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Reagan Walsh, Sarah Longley, Avery Goelz and Katie Kistler earned a hit a piece.
The two teams return to action Saturday, May 6, at 3 p.m. on ESPNU.
Notables:
* Pal Egan drove in her 24th RBI of the season when she scored Wallace from third via a SAC fly to center field in the top of the 5th inning and notched RBI number 25 and 26 with her two-run home run in the 7th inning.
* The home run was Egan’s sixth of the year.
* Egan’s 2-for-3 performance was her sixth multi-hit game of the year and her three RBI was her seventh multi-RBI game of the year.
* Hightower’s complete-game was her sixth of the season and it was her third seven-inning complete-game.
* The two hits allowed over the 7.0 inning outing are the fewest on the season for Hightower.
* Skylar Wallace stole her 29th base of the season in the top of the 1st inning of play. She’s now 29-of-30 on the year.
* Wallace scored her 65th run of the year when she was driven home from third on Pal Egan’s SAC fly in the top of the 5th inning.
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