The Gators return to SEC action on Saturday at Alabama.
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida softball team fell behind early and lost 1-0 at UCF on Wednesday in front of a capacity crowd at the UCF Softball Complex.
A pair of singles in the bottom of the first was the deciding factor for UCF (25-13) as it pushed the Knights out to a 1-0 lead over Florida (32-5). Aubrey Johnson dropped in a single with one out to right field and moved into scoring position after right fielder
Jaimie Hoover tracked down the second out of the inning deep into foul territory.
Cassady Brewer followed up and scored Johnson on her RBI single through the right side.
After the pair of singles in the first, Ocasio (14-3) went on to scatter three hits throughout the rest of the contest while striking out five and issuing zero walks.
Senior
Nicole DeWitt picked up the only hit of the night for Florida in the third on a double down the right field line with two outs. UCF starting pitcher Alea White (19-8) forced a fly out to left field to end the inning and preserve the 1-0 lead.
After a couple of quiet innings at the plate for both teams, the Gators were poised to respond in the top of the fifth. Hoover led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second after a SAC bunt from
Sophia Reynoso.
Amanda Lorenz extended her reached base safely streak to 37 games and put runners on first and second after drawing a full-count walk.
A fielder's choice to third retired Hoover as the lead runner and a fly out that hung up just long enough for Denali Schappacher to make the grab in left field for the final out.
Next up for the Gators is a trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for a three game series against No. 15 Alabama starting Saturday at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT.
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Walton's Words
Overall thoughts on tonight's game…
"We didn't swing the bat well enough to win the game tonight. We had more runners on base and left more runners on base. They found a way to get the hit with the runner in scoring position and we didn't
Notable Notes
- Florida still leads the all-time series over UCF 21-5 and 6-3 on the road.
- Amanda Lorenz extended her reached base safely streak to 37 games played.
- She has now reached base safely in 161 out of 168 career games.
- With her double in the third, Nicole DeWitt will carry a three game hitting streak into the weekend against Alabama.
