The No. 2 Florida softball team defeated Oakland University, 6-2 and 10-0 (5), in doubleheader action Wednesday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators (10-2) took two from the Golden Grizzlies (2-6) after the team combined for 16 runs on 13 hits.
After scoring a single run in the bottom of the first, the Gators rallied for five in the fifth to secure the win in Game 1.
Freshman Danielle Romanello brought in the first run via a SAC fly. Amanda Lorenz scored on the play after reaching base for via a leadoff walk.
Jordan Roberts notched a pair of RBI after a base hit to left field and Jordan Matthews along with Hannah Adams provided RBI singles in the five-run frame.
However, the Golden Grizzlies didn’t go away quietly in Game 1. Madison Jones lifted a home run over the left center field wall to close down the Florida lead to 6-2.
Kelly Barnhill had one of her most successful outings of the season as she recorded 15 strikeouts on just 65 pitches and allowed one hit before freshman Natalie Lugo relieved her in the top of the sixth with two outs. Lugo finished with one strikeout and two hits and two runs allowed.
The Gators started Game 2 with a run in the bottom of the first inning just like the first game. Nicole DeWitt pushed across Lorenz on a single to left that lifted the Gators up to a 1-0 lead over Oakland.
The Florida offense pressured the Golden Grizzlies defense in the top of the second. The Gators strung together seven runs on just three hits and a pair of errors.
After a Jaimie Hoover RBI single, a pair of infield errors by Jessie Munson at second base allow Florida to score its first four runs of the inning. Jordan Matthews and Jordan Roberts capped the scoring with run-scoring singles.
Kayli Kvistad extended the Florida lead out to 10-0 in the third via a double that scored DeWitt and Adams.
Sophomore Katie Chronister pitched effectively for four complete innings before being relieved by Lugo. Chronister tossed 67 pitches and struck out five while allowing only a single hit.
Florida returns to action Friday at 4:30 p.m. when the team opens play in its Aquafina Invitational against Maryland.
Women’s basketball: Florida (11-16, 3-11 SEC) plays host to No. 15 Tennessee (21-6, 9-6) today in the team’s final home game of the season. Tip-off from the O’Connell Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Mathematically, Florida could be as high as the No. 10 seed for the SEC Tournament and earn a first-round bye for the five-day, single-elimination event. For the Gators to capture a first-round bye, they would have to win their final two games (vs. Tennessee and at Georgia) AND Auburn would have to lose to Mississippi State and at home to Ole Miss.
