(SB) Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Game 1 vs. Auburn came down to 2 HR's surrendered by Hightower and Adams & Echols fanning to end the game after Falby, Goelz & Wallace singled to load the bases. Today, we got the bats going and lead 7-2 in the 6th. Looks like we'll even the series.

 

Gator softball evened their series with Auburn with a 7-6 win today, improving to 29-6, 6-5 in the SEC. Lexie Delbrey pitched 3 innings, only giving up 1 hit, but it was a HR after a walk. Natalie Lugo threw the last 4 innings to get the win and go 7-2, although she gave up a HR after a walk in the 6th and then 2 more runs in the 7th on 2 walks, a double and a triple, getting the final out with the tying run on third. The Gators were paced by Hannah Adams, who went 3-4, but the Gators had 13 hits on the day and an RBI from 6 different players. What proved to be the winning run scored when Kendra Falby scored the Gators final run in the top of the 5th when she got a 2-out single, stole second and scored on a throwing error that bounced off her helmet and rolled nearly to the outfield fence. The rubber game is Sunday at 2 pm, but it sure seems like the Gator pitchers just aren't going to be able to hold up consistently against quality teams. They will sure be tested, needing to beat Auburn Sunday, then host #3 FSU Wednesday and #4 Alabama next weekend for a Sat., Sun., Mon. Series that is covered on ESPN2 for the 1st 2 games and the SEC Network for the final game.

 

Echols was in the dugout during Saturday's game, but did have some kind of wrap around one wrist. However, she is in the starting lineup today. Same pitching match-up as Friday - Hightower vs. Penta. Penta is a 6'2" sophomore that is 18-2 for Auburn; 1.38 ERA with 158 K's and only 25 walks in 111.2 innings. Hightower is 9-2 with a 2.00 ERA with 69 K's and 34 walks in 73.1 innings.

 

UF softball won their 30th game of the season against 6 losses and improved to 7-5 in the SEC by beating Auburn Sunday 3-0. Elizabeth Hightower pitched her best game of the year, a complete game 3-hitter, with 2 walks and 5 K's. Florida only got 7 hits against Maddie Penta, the winningest pitcher in the SEC with 18, but they pinned her with her 3rd loss, while Hightower goes to 10-2. The game was scoreless until the top of the 5th when Cheyenne Lindsey doubled and was driven in on a single from Katie Kistler. In the 6th inning, Skylar Wallace and Hannah Adams singled to lead off the inning, Reagan Walsh delivered a 1 out RBI single and then Adams scored on a wild pitch. Charla Echols, playing with a bandaged wrist after being hit Friday and sitting out Saturday, continued her struggles by going 0-3, plus dropping an infield pop up in the 6th inning. Her batting average now stands at .272 and is steadily falling. The Gators host #3 FSU Wednesday night and then #4 Alabama comes to town for the weekend. Big test for the Gator team, who has only played 9 games against teams in the Top 25, but is 6-3 at this point.

 

Newest D! Softball poll has Alabama at #5, UF at #8. Oklahoma is still #1, UCLA #2, FSU #3, Virginia Tech #4, Northwestern #6, Oklahoma St. #7. As for other SEC teams, Arkansas is #10, Kentucky #11, Tennessee #12, Georgia #14, Auburn #18, Missouri #24.

 

Not sure there is an official poll. The only one that really counts is at the end of the season when the NCAA selection committee seeds the Top 16 for regional and super regional hosting purposes.

 

Elizabeth Hightower starting in the circle for UF at 6 pm vs. FSU. She's 10-2 with 1 save, 1.83 ERA, 80.1 innings pitched, 57 hits, 36 walks, 74 K's, 5 HR allowed. FSU starts redshirt junior Danielle Watson. She's 11-2, 1 save, 1.54 ERA, 82 innings pitched 49 hits, 27 walks, 98 K's 4 HR allowed. The Gator starting lineup has a season batting average of .350, 211 runs, 298 hits, 187 RBI, 111 walks, 24 HR and 107 K's. FSU's starting lineup has a season batting average of .330, 195 runs, 267 hits, 189 RBI, 141 walks, 35 HR and 105 K's. Goooo Gators!!!

 

Gator softball loses to FSU 4-2 in 10 innings. Florida only managed 1 earned run on 9 hits and 5 walks, stranding 12 base runners. Elizabeth Hightower was solid, throwing 7 innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks and 7 K's. Natalie Lugo took the loss, giving up a leadoff HR in the top of the 10th, plus another hit that came around to score after she was relieved by Haley Pittman. The Gators had plenty of chances to score, getting a leadoff double from Kendra Falby in the bottom of the 1st and leaving her stranded at 3rd; in the 3rd they got an unearned run and had runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out and couldn't score again; they left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 5th after getting 4 singles and only scoring 1 run; and in the bottom of the 9th they had a runner on 2nd with 1 out, then runners on 1st & 2nd with 2 outs and just couldn't get the big hit. It's been a problem for the Gators all year, even in wins. They don't hit many home runs (only 24 on the year) and just have trouble getting big hits with runners in scoring position. They drop to 30-7, FSU goes to 36-2, with Alabama coming in for a series starting Saturday. Crucial weekend for this Gator softball team.
Tim Walton made a couple of decisions that hurt the Gators' chances to win tonight, IMO. In the bottom of the 5th we had taken a 2-1 lead when Skylar Wallace singled and stole 2nd. Adams flied out, Charla Echols knocked in Wallace with a single, then Reagan Walsh singled, moving Echols to 2nd. After Cheyenne Lindsey struck out, Sam Roe singled to right field and Walton held Echols at 3rd when she would have easily scored, as the pitcher cut off the throw and it glanced off her glove. With a lead in a tight game, why not challenge the throw and try to score? Then in the bottom of the 8th, Roe led off with a single, Walton pinch hit Sarah Longley for Avery Goelz. She squared to bunt the first 2 pitches and took them for balls. He took the bunt sign off and Longley grounded into a double play.
In any event, it was a tight game and a tough loss. Need to get at least 2 out of 3 from Bama this weekend.