Graphic: Kelly Streeter (UAA Communications)
Game 1: Alabama 3, Florida 0 (Instant Breakdown)
Thursday, May 25, 2017 | Softball, Chris Harry
A quick wrap of Thursday night' Super Regional opener against Alabama.
NCAA SUPER REGIONAL GAME 1
ALABAMA 3, FLORIDA 0
WHAT HAPPENED: No. 16 Alabama couldn't get any hits off Kelly Barnhill, so the Crimson Tide gladly accepted a couple costly throwing errors by the Florida ace to score three unearned runs in the fifth inning and run away from the top-ranked Gators in Thursday night's opening game of best-of-three Gainesville Super Regional at Pressly Stadium. Barnhill, the sophomore and nation's leader in ERA at 0.35, was rolling through the Tide, striking out nine of the first 12 she faced, before the first two batters in the fifth reached on a walk and fielder's choice. The next batter, Chandler Dare, bunted back to Barnhill, who threw wild to first base, the ball skimming down the right field line and allowing two runs to score. Sydney Booker followed with a mirror-like play, a bunt back to Barnhill, who again threw high, with Dare coming into score. The 3-0 lead was plenty for Crimson Tide standout Alexis Osorio, who pitched a three-hit complete game and struck out eight.
PLAY(s) OF THE GAME: Barnhill's throws to first should have been routine defensive plays but they weren't even close, both sailing several feet over second baseman Nicole DeWitt's outstretched glove. The 3-0 deficit was too much to overcome for a Florida offense that has struggled to come up with timely hits the last several weeks. UF failed to record a hit with a runner on base.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Osorio was far from perfect, allowing the leadoff runner to reach base four out of the first five innings, but each time she either pitched out of a jam or, in two cases, got some help when Gators were picked off on base-running miscues. In the fifth, UF loaded the bases with two outs, but Osorio got Janell Wheaton, representing the go-ahead run, to pop up to left and end the threat. Florida was shutout for the fourth time this season, but for the third time in their last three losses.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Barnhill gave up just one hit over her five innings -- to the first batter of the game, no less -- yet went on to lose for just the third time this season, and for the second time in as many starts. What's more, because all three of Bama's runs were earned, Barnhill's ERA actually went down (even though her errant throws plated the runs) from 0.35 to 0.34.
UP NEXT: Alabama (46-16) will go for the knockout in Game 2 of the series Friday at 7 p.m. The Tide are expected to roll out senior Sydney Littlejohn (17-8, 1.28 ERA), while the Gators (53-8), with their season on the line, will go with Delanie Gourley (20-4, 0.71 ERA). Should the Tide prevail, they'll advance to the WCWS in Oklahoma City.
ALABAMA 3, FLORIDA 0
WHAT HAPPENED: No. 16 Alabama couldn't get any hits off Kelly Barnhill, so the Crimson Tide gladly accepted a couple costly throwing errors by the Florida ace to score three unearned runs in the fifth inning and run away from the top-ranked Gators in Thursday night's opening game of best-of-three Gainesville Super Regional at Pressly Stadium. Barnhill, the sophomore and nation's leader in ERA at 0.35, was rolling through the Tide, striking out nine of the first 12 she faced, before the first two batters in the fifth reached on a walk and fielder's choice. The next batter, Chandler Dare, bunted back to Barnhill, who threw wild to first base, the ball skimming down the right field line and allowing two runs to score. Sydney Booker followed with a mirror-like play, a bunt back to Barnhill, who again threw high, with Dare coming into score. The 3-0 lead was plenty for Crimson Tide standout Alexis Osorio, who pitched a three-hit complete game and struck out eight.
PLAY(s) OF THE GAME: Barnhill's throws to first should have been routine defensive plays but they weren't even close, both sailing several feet over second baseman Nicole DeWitt's outstretched glove. The 3-0 deficit was too much to overcome for a Florida offense that has struggled to come up with timely hits the last several weeks. UF failed to record a hit with a runner on base.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Osorio was far from perfect, allowing the leadoff runner to reach base four out of the first five innings, but each time she either pitched out of a jam or, in two cases, got some help when Gators were picked off on base-running miscues. In the fifth, UF loaded the bases with two outs, but Osorio got Janell Wheaton, representing the go-ahead run, to pop up to left and end the threat. Florida was shutout for the fourth time this season, but for the third time in their last three losses.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Barnhill gave up just one hit over her five innings -- to the first batter of the game, no less -- yet went on to lose for just the third time this season, and for the second time in as many starts. What's more, because all three of Bama's runs were earned, Barnhill's ERA actually went down (even though her errant throws plated the runs) from 0.35 to 0.34.
UP NEXT: Alabama (46-16) will go for the knockout in Game 2 of the series Friday at 7 p.m. The Tide are expected to roll out senior Sydney Littlejohn (17-8, 1.28 ERA), while the Gators (53-8), with their season on the line, will go with Delanie Gourley (20-4, 0.71 ERA). Should the Tide prevail, they'll advance to the WCWS in Oklahoma City.
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball2B
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball1B/C
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