Highlights |
Box Score |
Jaimie Hoover Postgame |
Recap
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 5-seed Florida returned the walk-off favor to No. 12 Tennessee, defeating the Lady Vols 2-1 in extra innings to advance to the Women's College World Series.
Florida moves on to the Women's College World Series for the 10th time in program history and for the third-straight year. This is the second consecutive year that the Gators have advanced to the WCWS on a walk-off. In the last 12 seasons, no school has recorded more trips to the WCWS than Florida.
The Gators (49-16) scored in the first inning for the fourth time in six games of the 2019 NCAA Tournament and took a 1-0 lead over the Lady Vols (43-17). A leadoff walk issued to
Amanda Lorenz and a shallow single to center field by
Hannah Adams set the table for
Sophia Reynoso's RBI base hit to right center field.
Senior right-hander
Kelly Barnhill (34-12) held the Lady Vols scoreless until the top of the seventh inning when Haley Bearden homered to right center field, knotting the game at one.
In the bottom of the eighth, Lorenz started the rally with a double to left field, followed by an intentional walk to
Kendyl Lindaman. Adams advanced both baserunners with a groundout, setting up runners at second and third for
Jaimie Hoover. With two outs, the junior singled to left center field, scoring Lorenz to secure the walk-off victory for the Gators.
How It Happened – No. 12 Tennessee – W, 2-1
| Inning |
Score |
Play |
| B-1st |
1-0 |
Sophia Reynoso came up with a clutch two-out RBI single to right center field that scored Amanda Lorenz from second base. |
| T-7th |
1-1 |
In the first pitch of the inning, Haley Bearden hit a solo home run to right center field to knot the game at one apiece. |
| B-8th |
2-1 |
Jaimie Hoover came through with the heroic two-out RBI single, scoring Amanda Lorenz for the win. |
Standout Statistic
- The Gators are advancing to their 10th Women's College World Series in the last 12 years, leading the nation in that span.
Notable Notes
- Florida advanced to its third-straight Women's College World Series .
- The Gators move to 22-7 (.759) in Super Regional play.
- Hannah Adams produced her 14th multi-hit game of the season after she went 2-for-3 at the plate.
- It's her sixth multi-hit game over the last 12 games.
- Senior Amanda Lorenz picked up her 238th walk in the game, which is not only the program record, but also the Southeastern Conference record.
- In Game 2 of the series, Lorenz surpassed the previous record of 235, set by Arkansas' Devon Wallace (2012-15)
- Kelly Barnhill recorded seven strikeouts on the day, moving her to 1,199 for her career.
- UF is 4-3 in extra-inning games this season and 1-1 at home.
Quotes
Head Coach
Tim Walton
Opening Statement
"Again, I want to thank our crowd and fans – they did a great job. Today was extra special, they really did a great job. Kelly pitched well and we had a couple of moments there where Tennessee put a scare into us, but I'll give our team credit. I thought we were going to show emotion after that homerun, but there was not one bad look in the huddle. I've seen bad looks in the huddle – last year at Texas A&M there were some bad looks. This was good, they are a confident group. I can't think of the last time a player struck out three times then ended up being the hero of the game – not in this program because I normally pinch-hit for them on the fourth time, but give Jaimie a lot of credit and give Amanda credit for getting the inning going with a double. Tip my cap to Tennessee, they had a great season and they have a lot of great players on the team. Haley Bearden's home run was as clutch as you will see. Give our kids credit, they found a way and I am proud of them. As Sophia [Reynoso] said last night, we've been through a lot as far tough situations go this season and today we did a great job. Obviously
Kelly Barnhill was
Kelly Barnhill and did
Kelly Barnhill things today, so I'm really proud of her. It is the second time now, in two weeks that she has been able to propel us to something. We need both offense and defense, but from a pitching standpoint, she did an amazing job."
Junior
Jaimie Hoover
On what she was looking for at the plate
"I wasn't looking for a change-up, I was just looking for something that I could drive. That feeling is unbelievable, I am so happy I could do that for my team."
On what Walton said to her going into the last at bat
"He just told me to be myself and go up there and do what I know how to do. Not let the moment get to me and hit how I know how to hit."
Senior
Kelly Barnhill
On if she knew she was getting the start today
"I didn't know, they didn't tell me, but I told them I wanted to start. I just knew that if this had a possibility of being our last game of the season, I wanted to be in control. I wanted to go out there and give my best stuff because I didn't feel like I did that yesterday."
On what she did after yesterday's game to rehab
"A bunch of the starters had to cold tank and I had to get my shoulder cupped. I took our Normatec system home and did 45 minutes on my legs and 35 minutes on my arms. When I came in today, I got my shoulders and legs stretched. Throwing the whole kitchen sink at it."
Senior
Amanda Lorenz
On doubling on what could have been her last collegiate at bat
"Honestly, I was just trying to soak it in all game. The fans were great and I was just trying to soak in every moment I had on the field. Each at bat I took today was pretty equal, I was just trying to live in the moment. During that last one, I was trying to compete – wanted to get a strike and get all over it. I wanted to be prepared for any strike I saw and drive it because I knew if I got on base, I have some really good teammates behind me who would get me in."
On Aubree Monroe saying it was poetic she scored the final run
"I'm just really proud of
Jaimie Hoover. It's not easy to be in that spot and have a clear head and find a way to get that done with the season on the line. The game doesn't know she is 0-for-3, the game has no way of knowing that, so that's just the coolest thing about postseason. In our game, no one knows or cares – all that matters is that moment. No one is going to remember she was 0-for-3 before that, all they are going to remember is the walk-off hit – that's pretty sick.
Sophomore
Hannah Adams
On Jaimie coming through
"To see Jaimie come through in that situation was huge. We see how hard she works every day and for her to be in that situation and come through like that, I could not be more proud."
Next Up
The Gators face No. 13 seed Oklahoma State in their opening game of the 2019 Women's College World Series. The game is slated for Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.
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