BOX SCORE
Jacksonville, Fla. – The top-ranked University of Florida softball team defeated Jacksonville, 16-1, on Wednesday night at the Pruitt Softball Complex. Nine different Gators had a hit in the contest, while nine scored runs and 10 drove in runs. No. 1 UF (6-0) jumped out to a 9-0 lead with nine runs in the second inning, adding four in the third and three in the fourth before JU got on the board in its second-to-last at-bat.
Bailey Castro opened the scoring with a leadoff home run to left field in the second, and the blast started the explosive frame for Florida. Following the senior's homer, UF had singles from Taylore Fuller, Kayli Kvistad, and Taylor Schwarz, while three Gators reached on a pair of walks and a fielder's choice. The Orange and Blue ultimately sent 13 batters to the plate during the inning, as Lauren Haeger helped her own cause with a double and Castro (single), Fuller (double), Kvistad (double) all followed with run-scoring hits before a flyout to center ended the inning.
Haeger (3-0) allowed two singles in the home half of the second, but Florida forced one runner out on a fielder's choice and the senior stranded the other with two strikeouts. The Gators added four more runs in the third with a sac fly by Kirsti Merritt, an RBI single from Haeger, and a two-base error off the bat of Kvistad.
Holding a 13-0 lead, Florida's senior right-hander allowed a baserunner on her own fielding error in the home half before bouncing back with two strikeouts to keep JU off the board. Pinch-hitter Chelsea Herndon started the fourth with a single, moving up two bases on Stewart's double to left. Nicole DeWitt then lined a base hit to the pitcher, loading the bases again. After a fielder's choice forced out Herndon at home, Francesca Martinez walked and Briana Little was hit by a pitch to add two runs and push Florida's lead to 15-0. Jessica Damico also drew a bases-loaded walk, finishing the scoring in the frame as Kvistad popped out to second base.
Aleshia Ocasio replaced Haeger in the circle for the bottom of the fourth. Jacksonville got on the board with a solo home run to lead off its half of the inning, and the freshman righty responded with three straight strikeouts to set down the Dolphins.
Florida had four runners in the fifth on a double by Stewart, a single by Justine McLean and two free passes, but a groundout a flyout retired the Gators. Delanie Gourley entered in the home half and recorded three straight strikeouts to finish the win for UF.
STARS OF THE GAME
· Bailey Castro: The senior outfielder tied her career highs with three hits and three runs scored, and homered for the second time in three games. Both of her homers this season have come against the Dolphins.
· Lauren Haeger: Florida's starter extended her personal scoreless streak to 12.0 innings to start the year, and helped her own cause with a single, a double, two runs scored and three RBI.
· Kayli Kvistad: The freshman was 2-for-4 with a run scored, a double and four RBI.
NOTABLES
· Florida improved to 14-0 all-time against Jacksonville, including 11-0 under Tim Walton.
· UF has run-ruled JU five times, including three of the last five meetings.
· The Orange and Blue now are 13-1 against in-state opponents since the start of 2014.
· Castro has two home runs through six games after going homerless in her first 18 games last season.
· The Gator pitching staff pitched 32.0 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run to start the season; the streak was snapped on JU's leadoff home run in the fourth.
· Martinez drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth, marking her second RBI as a Gator.
· Little's hit-by-pitch in the fourth was the 32nd of her career, tying Francesca Enea and Lauren Roussell for the all-time Florida record.
WALTON'S WORDS
On how the Gators' offense can score in bunches:
“That's been the nature of how we've scored the last few years. When we put up one or two (runs), you look up and the next thing you know, there's five, six and seven. In that [second] inning, we scored a nine-spot, which is good. The depth of our lineup really shows itself. When we start to get some runs, it's like blood in the water. Our hitters get a lot more aggressive and the lead starts to grow.”
On getting solid outings from all three pitchers:
“We had six strikeouts in relief today, [which was] very important. That mainly goes to the fact that we wanted to get them all in the game, keep them sharp and get them ready for five games this weekend. We need them all. We also got Aubree back in the game. It's good to be able to split time between the catchers to keep them sharp. That's the key to these midweek [games], is to try to stay sharp and get things done that you need to get done.”
On playing at home for the first time this season on Friday:
“I'm excited. It's different playing at home. You've got your fans – although I really give a lot of credit to our fans in Tampa and Jacksonville, I thought we had a lot of Gator fans. Playing in front of your fans with your walk-up songs and your videos on the scoreboard, it's cool.”
– Florida Head Coach Tim Walton
UP NEXT
Florida will open its home schedule this weekend when it hosts NC State (three games) and Iowa (two games). The three-day stretch begins Friday at 6 p.m. ET, when the Gators will go up against the Wolfpack. The home opener will be streamed on SEC Network+, with Larry Vettel and former Gator All-American Megan Bush on the call. WGGG (1230-AM) will have the radio broadcast with Adam Schick. In addition, a live stats link can be found on the schedule page on GatorZone.com.
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