The Florida softball team fell, 3-2, in game two of the series with No. 15 Alabama Sunday, April 8, at Rhoads Stadium.
Florida (33-6, 8-3 SEC) loaded the bases twice in the first and third innings, but it was a solo home run in the fourth by
Sophia Reynoso that put the Gators on the scoreboard initially. Reynoso's first home run of the season tied the game 1-1 with Alabama.
The Crimson Tide (25-10, 6-5 SEC) took the initial lead in the bottom of the first via a pair of singles. Elissa Brown led off with a sharply hit single through the left side of the Florida infield and stole second to advance into scoring position.
Kaylee Tow drove in Brown in the following at-bat with a single up the middle to give Alabama the 1-0 lead.
After Reynoso's solo shot to tie the game, Alabama bounced back to retake the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth. Bailey Hemphill hit her eighth home run of the season when she turned on a 1-1 pitch.
???????Ocasio (14-4) put the Gators into scoring position with two outs in the fifth inning. She sent Gettins' pitch high into the sky out in right field and Alabama outfielder Kaylee Tow lost the ball in the sun, which allowed Ocasio to race to third.
Janell Wheaton drove home Ocasio with a double down the left field line.
Alabama's Alexis Osorio (9-4) entered the game after Wheaton's RBI double with a 1-0 count on Reynoso at the plate. Osorio worked out of the inning without relinquishing any runs and stayed in for the remainder of the game to pick up the victory.
Sydney Booker pushed Alabama back into the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth with her fourth home run of the season.
The series finale between the two teams is set for Monday, April 9, at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.
Notable Notes
- Amanda Lorenz reached base safely for the 39th time this season.
- She currently has reached base safely in 163 of 170 games over her career.
- Aleshia Ocasio registered her third triple of the season and the eighth of her career.
- She is now tied for fifth all-time in Florida history in career triples.
- Nicole DeWitt extended her hitting streak to five games after going 1-for-3 at the plate with a walk.
- Kayli Kvistad tied Aja Paculba for all-time walks after drawing a pair in today's game.
- Kvistad has amassed 160 walks so far during her career at Florida.
- Lauren Haeger holds the record with 175 career walks.
