Visiting No. 6 Florida opened the SEC softball series against Texas A&M with an 8-6 win Friday night.
The Gators (34-9, 7-6 SEC) scored seven runs in the top of the first and withstood a five run fourth inning rally by the Aggies (23-8, 3-10 SEC) to take the first game of the series.
Freshman Hannah Sipos stepped up and went 3-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI, a run and hit her first collegiate home run. Jade Caraway and Jordan Roberts each chipped in 2-for-4 performances, while eight different Gators scored a run in the effort.
Kelly Barnhill (23-5) picked up the complete game victory in the circle for the Gators as she struck out six in the effort. Kayla Poynter (4-6) received the loss and lasted only a third of an inning. With six strikeouts, Barnhill is now the nation’s leader in strikeouts with 235 on the year.
Florida returns to Davis Diamond this evening to take on Texas A&M in the second game of the series at 7 p.m. (ET) on the SEC Network+.
