April 4, 2015
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After South Carolina struck with three in the first, No. 3/3 Florida (36-4, 8-4 SEC) responded with 16 runs in the Gators’ final three chances to take the five-inning 16-3 win in game two on Saturday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
South Carolina (26-15, 2-10 SEC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first when sophomore first baseman Kaylea Snaer send a 1-0 pitch over the center-field wall for her fifth homer of the year, scoring freshman offensive player Tiara Duffy and sophomore right fielder Victoria Williams after the pair reached on an infield single and a hit by pitch, respectively.
Florida got one run back in the second on Kelsey Stewart’s triple to right center that deflected off a Gamecock outfielder’s glove after the long run to try to snag it. Scoring on the play was Kathlyn Medina, who singled on a shot off SC redshirt senior pitcher Julie Sarratt.
The Gators took the lead in the fourth with 12 runs. Lauren Haeger doubled home the first run, while she scored on a wild pitch to tie it. Taylore Fuller’s single plated Bailey Castro from second to put UF on top. Medina’s grounder scored the fourth run of the frame, while Stewart’s hit on a chopper to short plated the fifth. After a catcher’s interference let the ninth Gator batter of the inning reach, Kirsti Merritt doubled home both. Taylor Schwarz singled home Merritt, and Haeger lined one out to center to make it 11-3 in Florida’s favor. Aubree Munro singled in the 11th Gator run of the inning, and the 12th scored after the throw from right got away from the Gamecocks.
Haeger hit one more homer, a three-run shot with two outs in the fourth, to put Florida’s advantage at 16-3.
Delanie Gourley (8-1) picked up the victory with three innings of work, allowing three earned runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two. Sarratt (14-8) took the loss, giving up 11 runs, six earned, on 13 hits and a walk in 2.2 innings.
Game Changer:
A 12-run third proved to be too tough to overcome for South Carolina.
Key Stat:
Sixteen Gator batters went to the plate in that fateful third.
Notables:
• Stewart went 4-for-4 with a double, a triple, two runs and two RBI.
• Haeger drove in six in her 3-for-3 day, scoring three times while doubling and hitting two home runs.
• Merritt and Castro both went 2-for-4, with Merritt driving in two with a double and Castro scoring twice.
• Munro went 2-for-3, while Fuller went 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
• Schwarz scored three runs off the bench.
• The only Gamecock to reach base after the first was junior Alaynie Page on a walk to extend her reached-base streak to 16 games.
Up Next:
South Carolina hosts USC Upstate on Tuesday at 7 p.m. EDT, with the SEC Network covering the in-state matchup. Cara Capuano and Kayla Braud will call the action.
