Florida 8, Bethune-Cookman 0 (Instant Breakdown)
Friday, May 18, 2018 | Softball, Chris Harry
A quick wrap of Friday night's first-round NCAA regional game.
NCAA TOURNAMENT
GAINESVILLE REGIONAL
No. 4 FLORIDA 8, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 0
WHAT HAPPENED: Sophomore Jamie Hoover knocked in five runs, including a three-run, pinch-hit homer in the second inning, and that was more than enough support for the pitching duo of Kelly Barnhill and Aleshia Ocasio on their way to a six-inning, combined no-hitter and easy victory Friday night over the Wildcats in opening-round play of the NCAA Tournament at Pressly Stadium. Hoover added a two-run single in the third inning that pushed UF ahead 5-0, while Barnhill was in the midst of striking out nine straight batters over a stretch spanning the game's first four innings. Barnhill, the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year, allowed no hits, walked one and struck out 10 over four innings. The Gators, the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, led 6-0 when Ocasio replaced Barnhill and set down the six batters she faced in order, fanning three. Senior Nicole DeWitt ended the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting the eight-run mercy rule in affect.
PLAY OF THE GAME: With runners at the corners and two outs in the bottom of the second inning, UF coach Tim Walton called on Hoover to pinch-hit for center fielder Alex Voss in the No. 9 hole, opting for Hoover's power potential over Voss' slapping skill. Hoover met BCU pitcher Alexis Bermudez with a line drive that cleared the center field wall for her fourth home run of the season and a 3-0 lead.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Hoover, from Suwanee, Ga., came into the game with 15 RBI for the entire 2018 season. She matched a third of those in the first three innings. The five RBI equaled her career-high. Hoover got five against South Carolina on March 19, 2017.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Since 2013, the Gators are 16-1 in NCAA regional play and have outscored opponents by a combined 111-3, with only one of those three opponents' runs being earned.
UP NEXT: The Gators (51-8) advanced in the winner's bracket on Saturday to face Ohio State (35-14), which won 3-2 in Friday afternoon's first-rounder against South Florida. UF and OSU is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. BCU (31-25) will meet USF (38-22) in the bracket's first elimination game at 5 p.m. The winner of that game will face the loser between the Gators-Bulls loser in the day's second elimination game, set for 7:30, with the winner of that one moving into Sunday's championship round.
GAINESVILLE REGIONAL
No. 4 FLORIDA 8, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 0
WHAT HAPPENED: Sophomore Jamie Hoover knocked in five runs, including a three-run, pinch-hit homer in the second inning, and that was more than enough support for the pitching duo of Kelly Barnhill and Aleshia Ocasio on their way to a six-inning, combined no-hitter and easy victory Friday night over the Wildcats in opening-round play of the NCAA Tournament at Pressly Stadium. Hoover added a two-run single in the third inning that pushed UF ahead 5-0, while Barnhill was in the midst of striking out nine straight batters over a stretch spanning the game's first four innings. Barnhill, the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year, allowed no hits, walked one and struck out 10 over four innings. The Gators, the No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, led 6-0 when Ocasio replaced Barnhill and set down the six batters she faced in order, fanning three. Senior Nicole DeWitt ended the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting the eight-run mercy rule in affect.
PLAY OF THE GAME: With runners at the corners and two outs in the bottom of the second inning, UF coach Tim Walton called on Hoover to pinch-hit for center fielder Alex Voss in the No. 9 hole, opting for Hoover's power potential over Voss' slapping skill. Hoover met BCU pitcher Alexis Bermudez with a line drive that cleared the center field wall for her fourth home run of the season and a 3-0 lead.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Hoover, from Suwanee, Ga., came into the game with 15 RBI for the entire 2018 season. She matched a third of those in the first three innings. The five RBI equaled her career-high. Hoover got five against South Carolina on March 19, 2017.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: Since 2013, the Gators are 16-1 in NCAA regional play and have outscored opponents by a combined 111-3, with only one of those three opponents' runs being earned.
UP NEXT: The Gators (51-8) advanced in the winner's bracket on Saturday to face Ohio State (35-14), which won 3-2 in Friday afternoon's first-rounder against South Florida. UF and OSU is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. BCU (31-25) will meet USF (38-22) in the bracket's first elimination game at 5 p.m. The winner of that game will face the loser between the Gators-Bulls loser in the day's second elimination game, set for 7:30, with the winner of that one moving into Sunday's championship round.
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