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OKLAHOMA CITY – The second-seeded Gators fell to the third-seeded UCLA Bruins 6-5 Friday night in the second round of the Women's College World Series.
Florida got out to a quick start in the game, taking a 4-0 lead going into the top of the fourth inning thanks to home runs by
Sophia Reynoso and
Kayli Kvistad.
The Bruins put up five runs on one hit in the top of the fourth inning to take a 5-4 lead over the Gators. UCLA had the bases loaded and scored their first run after Barnhill issued a walk to Nickles that brought Briana Perez in from third.
The next batter – Madeline Jelenicki - fouled out to
Sophia Reynoso, who threw a bullet to home to try to cut down the runner tagging up. In a close play at the plate, with two outs, UCLA's Aaliyah Jordan was called safe to cut Florida's lead to 4-2.
UCLA's
Taylor Pack came up to the plate and hit a three-run shot to clear the bases and give the Bruins their first lead of the night at 5-4. Bubba Nickles added another run for UCLA with a solo home run to take a 6-4 advantage in the top of the sixth.
Jordan Roberts blasted a pinch-hit home run to left field to bring the Gators within one at 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth, but Florida was unable to get the bats going in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the victory.
Kelly Barnhill moves to 29-2 on the year, but picked up 13 strikeouts in the loss. She allowed only three hits and issued two walks during her seven innings in the circle.
Kvistad went 3-for-4 in the game with two RBIs and one homerun.
Florida plays the winner of Arizona State/Oklahoma on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST in an elimination game. It is set to air on ESPN.
How It Happened
| Inning |
Score |
Play |
| Bottom 1st |
1-0 |
Amanda Lorenz reached base on an error by UCLA's shortstop and advanced to third on a single by Kayli Kvistad. Lorenz then scored on a wild pitch by Garcia to give Florida the 1-0 lead. |
| Bottom 2nd |
2-0 |
Sophia Reynoso sends a solo shot over the center field fence to put Florida up 2-0 early in the game. |
| Bottom 3rd |
4-0 |
After a walk to Amanda Lorenz, Kayli Kvistad crushed a ball over the fence in right center field for her first home run of the 2018 WCWS. That put Florida up 4-0. |
| Top 4th |
4-1 |
With the bases loaded, the Gators walked Nickles to score B. Perez and bring the Bruins to within three. |
| Top 4th |
4-2 |
Jelenicki fouled out to Sophia Reynoso, but Jordan tagged and scored from third, bringing UCLA to within two. |
| Top 4th |
4-5 |
Pack hit a three-run home run to left field, putting UCLA up 5-4. |
| Top 6th |
4-6 |
Nickles hits a solo home run to left field to give the Bruins a 6-4 lead. |
| Bottom 6th |
5-6 |
Jordan Roberts blasted a solo home run to left field to bring the Gators to within one run at 6-5. That was her second pinch-hit home run in as many at bats. |
Standout Statistic
Florida has at least one home run in 26 of its 41 WCWS games and have a total of 50 home runs at the WCWS. Both of Florida's 2018 games in Oklahoma City included three home runs. Florida now has six WCWS games with three or more home runs. Florida's high of four home runs in a single WCWS game came in 2011 against Alabama.
Coach Walton Back Saturday
Tim Walton was ejected in the bottom of the seventh after questioning the strike zone. He will be back on the field Saturday when the Gators play at 7 p.m. ET versus the winner of the Oklahoma-Arizona State game.
Notable Notes
- Tonight is seventh time UF has faced the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year at WCWS.
- 2008 – Angela Tincher – Virginia Tech – Pitcher – Senior – W, 2-0 (9)
- 2009 – Danielle Lawrie – Washington – Pitcher – Junior – L, 8-0 & L, 3-2
- 2015 – Sierra Romero – Michigan – Infield – Senior – W, 3-2; L, 1-0 & W, 4-1
- 2018 – Rachel Garcia – UCLA – Pitcher – RS-Sophomore – L, 6-5
- Kelly Barnhill recorded her 17th game with at least 10 strikeouts this season, which leads the Gator squad
- She recorded 13 strikeouts in the game
- Barnhill sits at (323) strikeouts on the season and (849) for her career, which puts her second all-time, behind just Stacey Nelson
- The Gators have accumulated (567) strikeouts on the year, the second-most of all time (2017 – 683)
- This game was only the third time in Rachel Garcia's career that she has given up three home runs in a game (Reynoso, Kvistad and Roberts)
- Sophia Reynoso hit her second home run of the season to give the Gators a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
- She now has five career home runs, two of which have come during the WCWS.
- Kayli Kvistad cranked her sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the third inning.
- It's her first home run since May 6, at Missouri.
- Kvistad now has four home runs in WCWS play
- Jordan Roberts produced her second pinch-hit home run of the 2018 WCWS.
- She belted a two-run home run against Georgia in the opening round game.
Next Up
Florida will play the winner of Arizona State/Oklahoma in an elimination game at 7 p.m. EST on Saturday. The game will air on ESPN.
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