GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No.6-ranked Florida shut out No. 10 Louisiana, 6-0, in the first game of a three-game series Friday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
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The Gators (17-2) played great defense, produced timely hits and received solid pitching performances from
Natalie Lugo and
Katie Chronister (1-0) for the definitive win over the Ragin' Cajuns (12-5). Lugo hurled 3.1 innings and allowed three hits in her ninth start of the season, while Chronister effectively pitched the final 3.2 innings for her first win of the season.
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Florida's defense turned its first double play of the evening in the top of the 2
nd inning. With runners on first and second with no outs,
Cheyenne Lindsey streaked from her position in left field to snag a line drive off the bat of Melissa Mayeux and fired it to
Hannah Adams at second to double up Sarah Hudek at second base.
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With Ragin' Cajun runners on the corners and one out in the 4
th inning, UF turned its second double play of the game when
Charla Echols fielded a slow grounder at third and fired home to
Julia Cottrill for the tag on Raina O'Neal. Cottrill made a heads up play and hurled the ball to Adams, who then snapped it to Reynoso to catch Taylor Roman in a pickle between second and third.
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Adams turned the third double play of the game in the 5
th inning when she scooped up the slow rolling grounder off the bat of Julie Rawls, made the tag on Bailey Curry going from first to second, spun 360-degrees and whipped it over to Lindaman at first in time to end the inning.
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However, the defensive highlights were not over as Lindsey showed off her arm in left field to preserve the shutout. With a runner on second and two outs, Lindsey fielded a shot through the left side of the infield and mowed down Mayeux at home to end the 6
th inning.
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Offensively, Lindaman (2-for-3) and Echols (3-for-4) combined for five the Gators nine hits, while Adams, Roberts, Cottrill and Reynoso chipped in a hit a piece.
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How It Happened – No. 10 Louisiana – W, 6-0
Inning |
Score |
Play |
B-1st |
1-0 |
After a one-out double by Lindaman to right-center, Echols followed up with an RBI single to left-center to plate Lindaman. |
B-4th |
2-0 |
Reynoso extended the Gators lead with an RBI single through the right side that scored Caraway from third. |
B-5th |
3-0 |
Lindaman launched the 3-2 pitch from Kleist over the wall and bullpen in left center field for a solo home run. It's her fourth of the season. |
B-5th |
4-0 |
Cottrill pushed across Goddard with an RBI single up the middle of the Ragin' Cajuns defense. |
B-6th |
6-0 |
Echols caused havoc in the sixth with her RBI single that scored Adams from second. The Newnan, Ga. native purposely got caught in a rundown between first and second which allowed pinch-runner Sarah Longley to score for the second run. |
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Next Up
Florida returns for the second game of the series against No. 10/9 Louisiana Saturday at 1 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
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