The Gators turned in their sixth-consecutive five-inning run-rule victory to start the season.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 3-ranked Florida softball earned its sixth consecutive five-inning run-rule victory with a 9-1 (5 innings) decision over the University Connecticut Friday evening during the first day of the T-Mobile Tournament at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators’ (6-0) offense was led by leadoff batter Kendra Falby who was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored, two RBI, two walks and a stolen base. Overall, the Orange & Blue’s patience at the plate was on display yet again as the team drew a total of nine walks to go along with six hits.
Joining Falby in contributing to UF’s tally in the hits column this evening was Skylar Wallace (1-for-2), Reagan Walsh (1-for-2), Avery Goelz (1-for-2) and Katie Kistler (1-for-1). Wallace led all Gators with three RBI.
Florida’s scoring once again began in the 1st inning of action when Wallace drove home Falby to give UF a 1-0 lead via an RBI ground out to first base. Falby setup the run scoring opportunity when she led off the game with a walk and a stolen base, which led to an errant throw by the catcher that allowed her to move to third.
The Gators tacked on an additional run to go ahead 2-0 over the Huskies when Walsh led the frame off with a double to center field. The Redondo Beach, Calif. native advanced to third via a wild pitch before being driven home on a deep SAC fly to center field by Goelz.
UF greatly extended its lead in the 3rd inning of action with a six-run frame that pushed the score out to 8-0. Kistler and Falby started the rally with back-to-back walks and Baylee Goddard loaded the bases with no outs via a full-count walk. Wallace notched the Gators third hit of the inning and drove home Kistler and Falby on a hard-hit ball through the right side of the Huskies infield.
Wallace stole her fourth base of the season and Echols walked to reload the bases with no outs. The Huskies went to the bullpen looking for an answer, but back-to-back RBI walks drawn by Walsh and Roe scored two more before UConn was able to settle down and retire two Gators.
However, the approach remained consistent for the Orange & Blue and both Kistler and Falby plated two more Gators with another pair of back-to-back RBI walks.
In the circle, Elizabeth Hightower earned the complete-game victory as she hurled all five innings and held the Huskies to just three hits, two walks and one unearned run that scored in the top of the 5th inning that closed down the lead to 8-1.
The Gators closed out the game in the bottom of 5th inning for its’ sixth-consecutive five-inning run-rule victory. Goelz led the rally off with a leadoff single to left, while pinch-hitter Olivia Gigante drew a full-count walk and Kistler loaded the bases with a fielder’s choice SAC bunt. Falby ended the scoring via a single to left field that scored Goelz from third.
Florida returns to action Saturday for a pair of games at 10:30 a.m. against Bowling Green and 1 p.m. with a rematch against UConn.
Notables:
* The squad turned in its sixth straight run-rule five-inning victory of the season.
* No other UF team in program history has started the season with six run-rule victories.
* Florida has outscored opponents 73-5 through six games played this year.
* Skylar Wallace stole two bases and Kendra Falby stole one in tonight’s win. Overall, the Gators are 12-for-13 in stolen bases on the season.
* Elizabeth Hightower has not allowed an earned run through 14 innings of work in the circle so far this season.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com<http://www.floridagators.com/softball/>
Florida Softball on Twitter<http://twitter.com/GatorsSB>
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter<https://twitter.com/_TimWalton>
Florida Softball on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/GatorsSB>
