WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
FLORIDA 7, LSU 0
WHAT HAPPENED: Sophomore
Kelly Barnhill threw a complete-game shutout, but once again it was (the formerly maligned) Gators offense that rocked ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in leading top-seeded UF to a second shutout victory of a Southeastern Conference foe in as many days. Senior
Chelsea Herndon smacked two-run double, junior
Janell Wheaton had three RBI, including a solo home run, and junior
Kayli Kvistad skied a two-run, put-away shot int the sixth to advance the Gators into the WCWS semifinals. A day after collecting eight hits, the Gators struck for nine against a trio of LSU pitchers. Meanwhile, Barnhill ran her record to 26-3 by limiting LSU to just two hits, fanning eight and lowering her nation-leading ERA to 0.34. For Florida, it was the 12th win in the last 13 games at the WCWS, dating to those 2014 and '15 NCAA championships, with six coming by shutout.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Herndon's double was incredibly clutch -- and incredibly due. Herndon, the senior who hit a grand slam here as a freshman in 2014, was a combined 0-for-12 with four strikeouts in NCAA play when she stepped into the batter's box after
Aleshia Ocasio drew a leadoff walk and
Jordan Roberts, with one out, was hit in the hand by LSU pitcher
Carley Hoover. Herndon roped her double down the right field line, with Ocasio scoring easily and pinch-runner
Alex Voss sliding safely home for the 2-0 lead. The Gators were off.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The day before, Ocasio smashed a three-run homer to finish off Texas A&M courtesy of the eight-run mercy rule. In this one, she provided the Gators their first run of the game, thanks to her leadoff walk, but was absolutely stellar in the field. The UF third baseman made a diving, over-the-fence catch in foul territory in the second inning that helped hold an LSU runner at third with one out. In the sixth, when the Tigers got the lead runner on base, the next two batters hit hard grounders her way. Both times, Ocasio gloved them clean and fired to second base to nail the lead runner. Reminder: Last season, Ocasio finished No. 2 in the nation in ERA at 0.77.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: UF leadoff batter
Amanda Lorenz went 3-for-4 with an RBI against the Tigers to run her NCAA Tournament numbers to 14-for-24 -- that's a .588 average -- and 22 total bases in 25 at-bats. Ridiculous.
UP NEXT: With a second victory in the winner's bracket, the Gators are in the WCWS semifinals. That means they'll have Saturday off while the loser's bracket cannibalizes itself and be back on the field Sunday at 1 p.m. to face an opponent to be determined during the elimination round. UF will use the day off to practice, but also be turned loose for a fun, to-be-determined team activity.
