April 3, 2015
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – South Carolina (26-13, 2-8 SEC) took a 2-0 lead, but No. 3/3 Florida (34-4, 6-4 SEC) scored the rest of the game’s runs in Friday night’s 10-2 win in six innings at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gamecocks took a 2-0 lead in the third on sophomore right fielder Victoria Williams’ two-out, two-RBI single, scoring freshman shortstop Krystan White and junior third baseman Jordan Bizzell after they reached on singles.
Florida responded with three in its half of the third. The first scored on a fielder’s choice by Kayli Kvistad, as the Gamecocks’ attempt to turn the double play sailed high at first. The next batter in form of Bailey Castro drove a 3-2 pitch over the wall in center to put the Gators up 3-2.
The Gators added three more in the fifth on Taylor Fuller’s sacrifice fly and Aubree Munro’s double down the third-base line. A two-out, three-run homer by UF pitcher Lauren Haeger made it 9-2 in the sixth. Castro followed with her second round-tripper of the night to end the game.
Haeger (16-0) tossed the complete game for the Gators, giving up two earned runs on four hits and a walk. She struck out six. Gamecock sophomore Nickie Blue (12-5) took the loss, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks in four innings. Blue tallied four strikeouts.
Game Changer:
Castro’s two-run homer in the second put Florida on top for good.
Key Stat:
Five of Florida’s eight hits went for extra bases.
Notables:
• Williams’ two-run single pushed her RBI total to 11 in the last four games.
• Four Gamecocks recorded singles: Bizzell, White, Williams and Lauren Masters.
• Both Gator power hitters Haeger and Castro had two hits and combined for three homers and seven RBI.
• Junior left fielder Alaynie Page walked to keep her reached-base streak alive at 14.
• That walk tied her for eighth in Gamecock history with Megan Donohoo.
Up Next:
The two teams are set to complete the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. EDT. Both games will be on SEC Network +.
