GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The eighth-ranked Florida softball team fell, 5-4, in the second game of the series Saturday afternoon to No. 7 Arkansas at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. UF celebrated the careers of four seniors,
Hannah Adams,
Natalie Lugo,
Cheyenne Lindsey and
Marissa Mesiemore, prior to today's game.
The Gators (35-11, 11-9 SEC) jumped out in front early, 3-1, over the Razorbacks (34-8, 13-4 SEC) in the bottom of the first inning.
Skylar Wallace initiated the rally with a leadoff walk against Arkansas starter Mary Haff (13-3), which was then followed up by freshman
Kendra Falby's single to shallow left field.
After a fielder's choice cut down Falby at second for the second out of the frame, senior
Cheyenne Lindsey ripped her seventh triple of the season down the right field line to score both Wallace and freshman
Reagan Walsh. While Lindsey was racing around the bases, the Razorbacks relayed a throw in to home that caromed off the catcher and allowed Lindsey to race home for the third run.
Arkansas went on rally for a three-run frame of its own in the top of the third inning to regain the lead at 4-3. Hannah McEwen drove in one on a sacrifice fly to right field, while Taylor Ellsworth drove in another on an RBI groundout to shortstop and Linnie Malkin tied the game with her RBI double to left field.
Junior
Rylee Trlicek (1-1) entered in relief of Lugo to close out the frame and prevent any further damage.
Florida responded in the home half of the inning to tie the game 4-4 on senior
Charla Echols sacrifice fly to center field that score Wallace from third.
Trlicek held the Razorbacks offense scoreless during the fourth and fifth innings, but Arkansas was able to manufacture the game-winning run on KB Sides' RBI double to left field that scored Cally Kildow.
The two teams will take the field Sunday at 12:30 p.m. (ET) for the final game of the series that is set to be streamed via SEC Network+.
Notables:
- Florida's overall series record over Arkansas is 50-12 and 27-7 when playing at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
- Under head coach Tim Walton, the Gators are 34-4 against Arkansas.
- For the 10th time this season, the Gators stole at least two bases in today's game.
- The Florida Gators are ranked first in the SEC in stolen bases with 104 on the year.
- The Gators are ranked third in the SEC in double plays per game this year. For the fourth time this season, Florida has made two double plays in a game.
- Cheyenne Lindsey ripped her seventh triple of the season and 10th of her career down the right field line in the 1st inning.
- The senior's seven triples are the third most in a single season and the 10 career triples are tied for 5th all-time in program history.
- Skylar Wallace had her 13th multi-hit game going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
- The redshirt-junior walked in the 1st inning to achieve a season-high 15 game base streak.
- Following her single in the 5th inning, Wallace stole her 39th base.
- Kendra Falby went 2-for-4 improving her season total to 20 multi-hit games.
- The freshman is 4-for-7 in the series providing multi-hit performances in both games.
- Falby stole her 27th base in the 3rd inning and has swiped a bag in two consecutive games.
- Rylee Trlicek threw 4.0 innings in relief and struck out two, tying both of her season-highs.
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