Softball Finishes Fall Season with 12-4 Win over Chipola
Saturday, November 14, 2009 | Softball
The University of Florida softball team downed Chipola College, 12-4, in the Gators' final fall game Friday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Freshman Brittany Schutte (Fountain Valley, Calif.) led the team, going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. Classmate Erin Schuppert (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) pitched four innings while striking out six and allowing only four hits.
Schuppert started the game with three straight K's to set down the Lady Indians in order. It didn't take long for the Gators to score, tallying four runs in the bottom of the first. Junior Aja Paculba (Wildomar, Calif.) led off with a single through right side and Schutte kept things going with one over the shortstop's head. Junior Megan Bush (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) knocked both runners in on a double to left center. After senior Corrie Brooks (Christmas, Fla.) reached on a fielder's choice, freshman Samantha Holle (Tampa, Fla.) recorded an RBI on a single to center field. Sophomore Michelle Moultrie (Jacksonville , Fla.) brought in the fourth run of the inning on a sacrifice fly, scoring Brooks.
Chipola got on the board in the top of the second, cutting the lead to two. Amanda Vickers reached first when she was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on Ashley Ellis's fielder's choice. Kellie Todd drew a walk to load the bases and Shanae Dickens drove Vickers and Ellis in when she smoked a single down the left-field line.
Freshman Brittany Walker (Tomball, Texas) opened the bottom of the inning with a walk. Paculba then hit a bomb to left field for a two-runshot, putting the Gators up, 6-2.
In the top of the third, Dana Cauthen stole third on an attempted bunt and was able to score off a sacrifice fly by Vickers. Schuppert did not another baserunner and Chipola was only able to cut its deficit by one. When the Gators got to bat, Moultrie used her speed to bunt for a single. The centerfielder stole second and hustled around third to score off an throwing error by the catcher, giving the Gators their seventh run of the game.
In the bottom of the fourth, Schutte hit a bomb to center field to give the Gators a commanding 8-3 lead. Freshman Ensley Gammel (Bakersfield, Calif.) came in as a relief pitcher when Chipola came up to the plate and retired the side.
With two down in the sixth, the Indians recorded their final run of the night. Todd hit a single through the right side, followed by Trish Bliss's double to center field knock her in.
The Gators added three more to their lead in the bottom of the inning. Schutte hit an RBI single up the middle to score Walker, who had bunted and stole second to put herself in scoring position. Junior Tiffany DeFelice (Coral Springs, Fla.) hit a bomb far beyond the wall, recording her third home run in the last two games and knocking in Schutte to put the Gators up 11-4.
In the top of the seventh the Gators showed off their defense skills on a routine 6-3 groundout. Selentia Pittman, who had walked, tried to advance to third but was gunned down by first baseman Bush. Holle finished out the game by hitting a home run off the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning and securing the Gator's 12-4 victory.
