No. 4 Gators Drop Series Opener to No. 7 Lady Vols

Friday, March 8

Gainesville, Fla.

6 PM

Florida Gators

21-3, 0-1

Tennessee

17-2, 1-0

Tennessee

Florida

The Gators return to KSP Stadium for game two of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET

No. 4 Gators Drop Series Opener to No. 7 Lady Vols

Friday, March 8, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery by Tim Casey

By: Herb Brooks

Tommy Scott for UAA Communications

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 4 Florida fell, 9-1 in five innings, to No. 7 Tennessee in the first game of this SEC Opening Weekend's three-game series at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

The Gators (21-3) recorded two hits in the game against the Lady Vols (17-2) and took the early lead in the bottom of the initial inning of play when Jordan Matthews forced a bases loaded walk to score Hannah Adams.

UT used big innings in the fourth and fifth to overcome the early Gators lead and a strong outing in the first three innings from starting pitchers Kelly Barnhill (12-2).

Amanda Lorenz (1-for-2) and Kendyl Lindaman (1-for-3) registered the team's only hits, with Lindaman extending her hitting streak to five games and reaching base safely for the 23rd-straight time.

In the circle, Barnhill and Danni Farley combined for 10 strikeouts.

How It Happened – No. 7 Tennessee – L, 9-1 (5 Innings)

Inning	Score	Play
B-1st	1-0	After a long first inning with a pitching change from the Lady Vols, the Gators loaded the bases with two outs where Matty Moss walked Jordan Matthews to score Hannah Adams.
T-4th	1-1	After three innings of no-hit ball, Barnhill relinquished a home run to left field off the bat of Kaili Phillips to tie the game at one.
T-4th	3-1	Tennessee's rally continued with one out when Ally Shipman drove a ball over the left field wall to give the Vols and two-run lead in the fourth.
T-4th	5-1	UT's extended their lead in the fourth with another home run, this one off the bat of Cailin Hannon over the right field wall.
T-5th	7-1	Lady Vols continued to use its hot bats to extend the lead over the Gators with another home run Phillips for her second of the evening.
T-5th	9-1	UT made it an eight-run lead in the fifth with a hard single through the right side by Hannon that scored Shipman.

Notable Notes

Despite tonight's result, Florida still holds a 50-27 over Tennessee all-time and 25-6 at home.
The Gators dropped to 8-1 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium this season.
Kendyl Lindaman has reached base safely in 23-straight games.
Legendary Gators pitcher Stacey Nelson (2006-'09) threw out tonight's ceremonial first pitch.
- Nelson leads Florida in all-time strikeouts with 1,116. In second on that list is current Gator Kelly Barnhill with 959.

Next Up
The Gators have the chance to bounce back right away tomorrow afternoon against No. 7 Tennessee at 1 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

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