April 4, 2015
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – South Carolina could not contain No. 3/3 Florida’s offensive attack, as the Gators (35-4, 7-4 SEC) took the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader by a score of 19-0 (5) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Florida posted six runs in the second on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Taylore Fuller, a Gamecock error on a throw home, a wild pitch, two RBI singles by Kelsey Stewart and Kirsti Merritt and a first-and-third double steal.
Five more runs came in the third, starting with the third walk of the inning to pinch-hitter Chelsea Herndon to force home a run and Stewart’s triple that deflected off Gamecock senior Sarah Mooney, ricocheting into right center. Mooney stayed in the game after that triple. Stewart scored on Kayli Kvistad’s groundout.
Eight more Gator runs crossed the plate in the fourth, with single runs coming on singles by Justine McLean and Merritt coming around bases-loaded walks to Stewart and Nicole DeWitt. Kvistad punctuated the Gators win with a grand slam to center to make it 19-0.
Aleshia Ocasio (12-3) took the victory for Florida, tossing a four-hit shutout. She struck out two. Gamecock sophomore Nickie Blue (12-6) was charged with the loss, allowing six runs, three earned, on four hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.
Game Changer:
South Carolina never recovered from the Gators’ six-run second.
Key Stat:
Both Stewart and Kvistad drove in five runs in the victory for No. 3/3 Florida.
Notables:
• Gamecock starters Alaynie Page and Kaylea Snaer had singles for South Carolina.
• Two Gamecocks had pinch hits: Tiara Duffy’s single and Taylor Williams’ double.
• South Carolina led off four innings with hits but never a second in a frame.
• Mooney made her first pitching appearance for the Garnet and Black but her 36th in her collegiate career, making the first 35 in her two years at James Madison.
• The 11 walks issued by the Gamecocks tied a program record, set on April 30, 2011 against Florida.
• The last time South Carolina allowed 19 runs came on April 15, 2012 at Alabama.
• Stewart scored three times to go with her five RBI and a triple in a 2-for-3 day.
• Kvistad also went 2-for-3 with five RBI, scoring twice and hitting the grand slam.
• Merritt also had two hits and two RBI.
• Both Fuller, Briana Little and Herndon scored twice, with DeWitt, Herndon and Bailey Castro all walking twice.
