No. 6 Florida softball team defeated Mercer, 9-3, Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators (27-6) wrapped up the quick two-game set with the Bears (13-20), a series that included 19 runs on 19 hits between the two games from Florida, with a big win thanks to another strong day at the plate.
Hannah Adams led the way for the Gators going 3 for 4 with three runs scored, while Jade Caraway (2 for 4) and Kendyl Lindaman (2 for 3) had two hits apiece. Lindaman hit a pair of home runs in the contest and has now hit eight home runs in her last eight games.
Danielle Romanello (1 for 2) and Jordan Roberts (1 for 2) also slugged home runs to help out.
Elizabeth Hightower and Natalie Lugo (7-3) combined for a strong 7 innings in the circle. Hightower, who got the start, threw 3 innings, allowing one hit, one walk and no runs while striking out three. Lugo relieved Hightower for 4 innings, recording eight strikeouts, allowing only two walks and four hits en route to securing the win.
Florida hosts Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, Florida defeated Mercer 10-2 in five innings. An impressive onslaught from the offense, as it totaled 10 hits, and a strong start from Kelly Barnhill (17-3), allowed the Gators (26-6) to route the Bears (13-19) in the first game of a two-game series.
Offensively, eight different Gators scored runs, including two runs scored each from Kendyl Lindaman and Amanda Lorenz. Lindaman hit two home runs and drove in six runs on the day. Her six-RBI game ties her career-high for RBI in a single game.
Four different pitchers entered the circle for Florida today. Barnhill and Natalie Lugo combined for 10 strikeouts and allowed no hits over 4.0 innings. A combination of Danni Farley and Katie Chronister finished out the final inning.
Women’s golf: At Auburn, Ala., freshman Clara Manzalini was able to hold on to her top spot on the leaderboard, as the Gators had a tough day on the links in the second round of the Evans Derby Experience. After opening the day with birdies from three different Gators, UF (592, +16) fell from second to sixth on the leaderboard amid a bogey crisis. The UT Longhorns lead at 579 +3.
After a hot start Saturday and a four-under finish from Manzalini, she was able to hold onto the top spot despite a two-over finish Sunday. She remains one of only seven players in the field of 87 that sits under par heading into today’s final round.
Women’s tennis: At Nashville, Tenn., Florida lost the doubles point, but bounced back in singles play, getting wins from McCartney Kessler, Ida Jarlskog and Marlee Zein before falling 4-3 to No. 5 Vanderbilt (11-4, 6-1 SEC).
The Gators (7-8, 4-4) remain on the road, next playing at LSU starting at 5 p.m. Friday.
From Saturday
Women’s swimming and diving: At Austin, Texas, Florida finished in 24th place with 44 points and collected five combined All-American honors.
Sherridon Dressel (100 Back), Kelly Fertel (400 IM) and Brooke Madden (1-Meter) collected First-Team All-American honors in their respective events. Dressel, Vanessa Pearl, Georgia Marris and Bella Garofalo earned an honorable mention nod with their effort in the 400 Medley Relay. Pearl added an honorable mention honor with her 200 IM performance.
Stanford won the meet with a 456.5.
Lacrosse: At Stony Brook, N.Y., 16th-ranked Florida topped the 17th-ranked Stony Brook Seawolves (4-4), 11-10.
Shannon Kavanagh led the offensive attack for Florida (4-6), posting five goals. That total tied her career-best and gave the sophomore her sixth hat trick this season. Lindsey Ronbeck followed with two of her own, while Sydney Pirreca, Grace Haus and Caroline Benitez each added one apiece.
The Gator defense caused six turnovers on the day and held Stony Brook to a .310 shooting percentage (10-of-31). Cara Trombetta led the way defensively with three caused turnovers, while Sabrina Cristodero added two. Kavanagh (6), Ronbeck (4) and Cristodero (3) controlled the draw circle for the Gators.
Haley Hicklen posted 15 saves in the cage today, recording a .583 saves percentage in her 60 minutes of play. This was the fifth game that Hicklen has recorded double-digit saves and the 15 saves are just one off her career-best.
Men’s tennis: At Lexington, Ky., the No. 4 Gators (15-2, 7-0 SEC) rolled the Wildcats (9-10, 3-4), 7-0, for their ninth consecutive win. UF started things with the doubles point after wins from Duarte Vale-McClain Kessler and Oliver Crawford-Sam Riffice. Then, the Gators swept the singles matches: Vale, Johannes Ingildsen, Andres Andrade, Lukas Greif, Crawford and Riffice.
