For the second time in as many days, No. 2 Florida (30-3, 7-2
Southeastern Conference) fell to No. 3 Georgia (26-4, 7-3 SEC) due
to its lack of quality pitching depth.
With aces Stephanie Brombacher (sidelined with a bicep injury) and
Hannah Rogers (suspended) out, Ensley Gammel drew the start, but
disappointed as the Bulldogs defeated the Gators 13-5.
Once again, the sophomore struggled to consistently find the strike
zone, issuing 10 walks in five innings.
The Bulldogs made Gammel pay by driving in 10 runs on seven hits,
including a demoralizing three-run home run in the seventh by
cleanup hitter Alisa Goler.
Much like Friday, Gammel had trouble closing out innings, as the
Bulldogs scored nine runs with two outs.
“That’s kind of been her m.o. through the fall and into the
spring,” UF coach Tim Walton said. “It can’t be a physical thing
when you get to two outs that quick.
Although Brombacher warmed up in the bullpen and could have been
brought in had the Gators secured a lead, Walton called in Kasey
Fagan in the fifth.
UF’s starting third baseman went 26-1 in the circle her senior
year, but the freshman had her share of ups-and-downs
Saturday.
After surrendering a leadoff single, Fagan induced a pop fly and
was the catalyst on an impressive inning-ending double play.
She followed with a scoreless sixth, but could not get any outs in
the seventh.
Fagan was tagged for three earned runs on two hits in her first
collegiate pitching appearance.
“She did everything I could ask,” Walton said. “She ran out of gas,
but it’s a lot to ask a kid who’s never pitched a Division I game
facing a team like that.”
Florida players were not made available for comment after the
game.
