WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
FIRST ROUND
FLORIDA 11, GEORGIA 3
WHAT HAPPENED: Down a couple runs after a half-inning, the Gators answered immediately with a five-run first of their own, thanks to a bases-loaded double by freshman
Jordan Matthews and three-run homer by starting pitcher
Aleshia Ocasio in second-seeded UF's dominating win Thursday night over their Southeastern Conference rival in opening-round action of the WCWS at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. Sophomore
Jordan Roberts had a pinch-hit two-run homer and freshman
Hannah Adams added a solo shot, as the Gators tortured four Bulldogs pitchers for 11 runs, seven hits and eight walks in just 4 1/3 innings, as the game was stopped in the fifth by the eight-run mercy rule. Ocasio (23-7) gave up the two runs early, but got the win after working five innings and allowing seven hits and three runs, striking out seven and walking only one. The Bulldogs, the NCAA Tournament's No. 7 seed, had beaten UF in two of their three meetings this season, including an 11-1 rout in their series at Athens. UF got its revenge in sending UGA to the loser's bracket.
PLAY OF THE GAME: One batter after Matthews stroked her two-run double, Ocasio stepped to the plate with runners at second and third and the game tied at 2-2. Ocasio had been knocked around pretty good in Georgia's first, having served up three hits, including a two-run homer by
Justice Milz, for a quick 2-0 deficit. Ocasio made up for it -- and then some. She took Bulldogs starter
Mary Wilson Avant deep and over the right field wall for a three-run homer and 5-2 lead. UF upped the lead to 6-2 an inning later, and Georgia got no closer than within three runs after that, as Ocasio allowed just one run after that shaky first on her way to the win.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: When Coach
Tim Walton sent Roberts to the plate to pinch-hit for Matthews, of Gainesville Super Regional walk-off fame, surely fans at home looked at the television sideways. Roberts stepped in hitting .273 with no hits over her last six games. She had four homers on the season. Her fifth will likely be her favorite.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The Gators had not hit three home runs in a game this season against a Power 5 conference opponent. They hit five against Hampton, four against Loyola Marymount, and two in 10 other games, but only once (against Bethune-Cookman) in this NCAA Tournament. They picked a nice night to unleash the fury.
UP NEXT: Florida (56-9) moves on in the winner's bracket and will face either No. 3-seed UCLA (56-5) or No. 6-seed Florida State (52-11) in Friday night action, tentatively scheduled for 9:30 p.m. (zero chance it starts on time, by the way). UCLA and FSU were set to play the late game Thursday night. The Gators did not face the Bruins during the 2018 season and split their home-and-home series against the rival Seminoles, losing 4-1 at Tallahassee on April 11 and winning 5-1 in Gainesville on April 25.
