Alabama 15, Florida 3 (Instant Recap)
Saturday, June 1, 2019 | Softball, Chris Harry
WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
FIRST ROUND / LOSER'S BRACKET
ALABAMA 15, FLORIDA 3
FIRST ROUND / LOSER'S BRACKET
ALABAMA 15, FLORIDA 3
WHAT HAPPENED: The last game of Kelly Barnhill's stellar career turned out to be the shortest and cruelest of her career, as the eighth-seeded Crimson Tide ripped the Gators' ace for six first-inning runs on the way to wipeout defeat of their Southeastern Conference rival on "Survivor Saturday" that eliminated Florida from the Women's College World Series. After basically carrying the Gators all the way to OKC, Barnhill just did not have it for her 11th straight postseason start. She lasted just two-thirds of an inning against Bama's big bats. Her first inning looked like this: lead-off double, walk (with a wild pitch), 3-run homer by Kaylee Tow, walk, long flyout, hit by pitch, flyout and 3-run homer by No. 8 hitter Merris Schroder and 6-0 deficit. UF coach Tim Walton didn't waste any time. He hooked Barnhill (34-14), who'd thrown 66.1 innings over 10 postseason games, for freshman Elizabeth Hightower, who got her first action in the circle since the May 8 SEC Tournament opener against South Carolina. Meanwhile, Tide starter Sarah Cornell (22-1) limited the Gators to seven hits (including homers by Kendyl Lindaman and Sophia Reynoso in the fifth) on the way to victory via mercy rule. Hightower gave up four runs in two innings of work before giving way to Natalie Lugo wth two out in the third and Bama up 10-0. The lead was 11-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Walton called time out, went to the circle and subbed Barnhill back in the game -- for one pitch. It was a strike. She then left the game to a standing ovation from the crowd at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Alabama offense, with its 12 hits, three homers and 13 RBI in 25 at-bats. Three Crimson Tide players had at least three RBI.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: The 15 runs scored were the third-most surrendered in the Florida's program's 22-year history, behind only an 18-1 loss at Tennessee on April 2, 1999 and 16-3 loss to UCLA on June 3, 2010 at the WCWS.
UP NEXT: Florida (49-18) will return to Gainesville Sunday morning, leaving Walton to ponder life after Barnhill and Lorenz and, in time, begin the offseason process of honing in on a roster that, for now, lacks consistent hitters and pitching depth.
Players Mentioned
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