UF catcher Janell Wheaton prepares to tag UCLA's Aaliyah Jordan, as she attempts to score after tagging up from third. Jordan was ruled safe on the play.
Tough Inning, Tough Call Push Gators to Brink
Saturday, June 2, 2018 | Softball, Chris Harry
UCLA erased a 4-0 UF lead to shove the Gators into the losers' bracket.
Especially when asked about the play.
Yeah, that one.
UF led 4-1 in the top of the fourth, but the Bruins, the No. 3 overall seed, had pushed home a run and had the bases loaded with just one out when Madeline Jelenicki popped a Kelly Barnhill pitch down the third-base line in foul territory. The ball carried to just in front of the wall in shallow left, where UF shortstop Sophia Reynoso made a terrific grab, then executed an even better throw home to try and nail Aailayah Jordan attempting to tag and score from third. The ball found catcher Janell Wheaton's glove, which (replays appeared to show) swiped across the sliding Jordan's back side just before she hit home plate, as the Gators — on the field and in the dugout — erupted over a clutch play to end the inning and threat.
But home plate umpire Brandon Bluhm ruled the runner safe, making the score 4-2, as the Gators vehemently protested.
The next UCLA batter, Taylor Pack, launched a three-run homer to give the Bruins the lead. The Bruins never trailed again.
Barnhill, Reynoso and first baseman Kayli Kvistad — the pitcher of record and two UF players who hit homers off National Player of the Year Rachel Garcia, respectively — were asked to break down what they saw on the play.
"Sophia made an amazing catch, amazing throw, and we were just trying to make a play on it," Barnhill said.
Added Reynoso: "Yeah, we did our best on that. The way it turned out was the way it turned out."
Kvistad: "Same."
Would have been nice to hear Coach Tim Walton's take on that call (and maybe a few others during the game), but since he was ejected in the bottom of the seventh inning after a discussion with Bluhm, he was not eligible to speak at the news conference, per NCAA Tournament rules. Pitching coach Jennifer Rocha took Walton's place, and was asked about the head coach getting tossed.
"I don't really have a comment on that," she said.
Nor did she need one. It was obvious Walton and the Gators took issue with the play at home in the fourth, along with some balls and strikes throughout the evening (especially in the UF seventh). But when the team reconvenes Saturday morning to process the outcome and look to Saturday night's elimination game (against either two-time defending national champion Oklahoma or Arizona State), the Gators surely will address the problems that preceded the controversial call at home.
Heading into the UCLA fourth, the Bruins had yet to get a hit, with Barnhill striking out eight of the nine batters she faced. Then came lead-off hitter Kylee Perez for her second look at the UF All-American. Perez announced to her coach, Kelly Inouye-Perez, what she was going to do.
"I'm going to make her handle the ball," Perez said.
Barnhill fielded a bunt back to the circle, but her throw wasn't clean and the Bruins had their first baserunner. Barnhill got the next hitter on a fielder's choice, but then hit Jordan with a pitch, walked Garcia to load the bases, then walked Bubba Nickles to push across the Bruins' first run.
UCLA still did not have a hit in the game.
"It wasn't the ideal way to start off the inning," Barnhill said of the error. "After that, I guess I just didn't exactly feel locked in and wasn't as sharp as I wanted to be. When you walk people and make errors, they make you pay for it."
True that. Next came the Reynoso-to-Wheaton play, followed by Parker's homer.
The Gators went into the inning leading 4-0 and went out trailing 5-4 — and gave up just one hit along the way.
It was a tough way to go down, but UF did not go out. Two teams will be eliminated from the eight-team bracket before the Gators take the field Saturday night at 7. A win and they're in the WCWS semifinals, but they will need to win twice Sunday to reach the national-championship series.
Three wins over the next two days. That's a tall order and the Florida players knew it. There was disappointment in their faces after this one, yes, but if Kvistad's steely-eyed look was any indication, there will be determination on those same faces Saturday night.
"We're still going to play Gator softball," said Kvistad, the senior. "We put up a good fight, and I think we're going to bounce back even stronger. We know everyone in the lineup can turn the game over, and we're going to work on that, get a good night's rest, hit tomorrow and hopefully come out with a win."
Players Mentioned
RHP
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1B
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INF
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C/1B
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