GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The fourth-ranked Florida softball team bounced back with a pair of victories over Georgia State, 3-1, and Coastal Carolina, 8-1, on the opening day of the Bubly Invitational at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Friday.
The Gators (18-1) came out on top in the pitcher’s duel with the Panthers (6-9) as Marissa Mesiemore (2-0) picked up the win in 3.0 innings of relief and striking out three. Both were season-highs for the graduate transfer out of Bushnell, Fla. Elizabeth Hightower got the start surrendering only one hit on one run striking out four through 4.0 innings.
In the top of the second, the Panthers got on the board first with their only run of the contest. With runners on first and third, Georgia State executed a double steal to allow the lead runner to cross home.
The Orange & Blue answered in the bottom of the inning via a wild pitch allowing Avery Goelz to score from third. Goelz reached on a hit by pitch and advanced to third due to a throwing error by the third baseman trying to nab her at second base on a fielder’s choice.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hannah Adams broke the tie with a RBI single to centerfield scoring Kendra Falby. Falby worked a two-out walk, proceeded to steal second and advanced to third after the throw down sailed into the outfield.
Reagan Walsh provided an extra run of insurance with her second career home run in the bottom of sixth with a deep solo shot over the left field fence to push it to 3-1.
In the second game against Coastal Carolina (8-7), Lexie Delbrey (6-1) tossed 6.0 innings in the circle striking out eight and relinquished just one run on two hits. Rylee Trlicek shutdown the seventh striking out two of the three batters she faced.
Coastal Carolina struck in the first with a solo home run over the left field wall for the early lead 1-0.
Florida wouldn’t be down long. Falby worked a leadoff walk and Adams reached first placing a perfect bunt on the first base line to advance her to third. Adams then swiped second for her ninth stolen base of the season. With two in scoring position, Wallace ripped a two-RBI single through the right side to take the lead. She sprinted home via a double steal with Cheyenne Lindsey to put the Gators up 3-1.
Wallace drilled her third triple of the season in the third and scored her second run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center field by Charla Echols to make it a 4-1 game.
Falby improved her hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI double to left field extending the Gator lead to 5-1. The Gators brought it to 6-1 tacking a run in the fifth with Walsh collecting her second hit of the night placing an RBI double in right center.
The offense capped off their 11-hit night in the sixth with an RBI double to center field by Adams and Wallace followed up with a triple to left, her second of the night, to bring her home.
Up Next
Florida is back at it for day two of the Bubly Invitational Saturday with a single game against Tennessee State at 1 p.m.
Quotes
Head Coach Tim Walton
On Hightower back in the circle pitching vs. Georgia State…
“I’m excited. I like Elizabeth pitching. She does a good job. When she gives up a lot of foul balls and when she’s giving up pull side foul balls to right-handed hitters you know her stuff’s moving well. She’s a competitor and she locates her pitches really well.”
Hannah Adams
On her big hit against Georgia State and her mindset going up to bat…
“I don’t think that I try to make those at-bats any bigger than they are. I feel like I’ve been in that situation quite a lot with a big-hit, big at-bat. So I’m just trying to stay calm, trust myself and know that I prepared for that moment.”
Skylar Wallace
On her overall performance today…
“I think I just honestly the mindset was to just come out and have fun. As much as you want to do well all the time that’s not realistic in softball. It’s a game of failure, so just keeping your head up and getting after it each pitch is something I try to hold myself to.”
Notables:
* Skylar Wallace tied the UF single-game record for triples as she delivered both to left field in her last two at-bats. It’s the third time this season the Gators have tripled twice in a single game. The Woodstock, Ga. native went 3-for-3 in the game, which is a season-high and ties her career-high.
* Jackie Marchetta – Birmingham Southern (Feb. 14, 2003)
* Kim Waleszonia – Coastal Carolina (Feb. 13, 2009)
* Michelle Moultrie – Utah (Feb. 21, 2011)
* Cheyenne Lindsey – North Florida (Feb. 22, 2022)
* Skylar Wallace – Coastal Carolina (March 4, 2022)
* Florida recorded a season-high six stolen bases against Coastal Carolina. The Gators entered the weekend leading the nation in stolen bases.
* The last time the Gators stole six bases was March 2, 2017, against Iowa.
* Florida batters produced 10 or more hits in a game for the ninth time this season by collecting 11 against Coastal Carolina.
* Tonight, marks the fifth time this season Gator pitchers have struck out at least 10 batters.
* The Gators held Georgia state and Coastal Carolina to just one run in both games.
* The Gators have now held seven teams to one run this season. Last time being Feb. 26, against Oakland.
* Wallace extended her base streak to nine games with her eighth hit by pitch of the season in game one and a two-RBI single in game two.
* She entered the contest tied for the most in the nation in hit by pitch.
* Elizabeth Hightower’s start in game one against Georgia State marked her first appearance since Feb. 18, in the win over No. 14 Duke.
* She only allowed one run on only one hit with four strikeouts through 4.0 innings pitched.
* Kendra Falby extended her hit streak to 11 games with a bunt single in the 3rd inning of game one and an RBI double in the 4th inning of game two.
* She has reached base in all 19 games this season as she walked in the 1st inning of game two.
* Marissa Mesiemore registered her longest outing of the season with 3.0 innings in game one.
* She entered in relief in the 5th inning and tossed a season-high three strikeouts allowing only one hit.
* Reagan Walsh extended her base streak to 16 games via the homerun in game one and single in game two.
* Charla Echols’ hitting streak ended in game one at 13 games (Feb. 13 – March 4, 2022) putting her tied for seventh longest all-time in Florida history.
* The streak is tied for fourth longest all-time by a senior.
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