For only the fourth time this season, Florida ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard. However, at the end of the day, the Gators escaped, winning 3-2.
On Saturday, UF (28-2, 9-1 Southeastern Conference) found itself down to Arkansas (18-11, 2-8 SEC) by two runs for the first four innings. Freshman Lauren Haeger gave up both runs to the Hogs in the third inning as well as allowing all of the Razorbacks’ three hits in the same frame.
Through the first four innings the Gators outhit the Hogs, 4-3, but coach Tim Walton’s squad could not get a runner to cross home plate.
However, Florida’s offensive dry spell ended in the fifth inning.
Senior Michelle Moultrie, who lit up the scoreboard in Friday’s 6-0 win with two RBI in a 4-for-4 performance, came through in the clutch again on Saturday. Leading off the top of the fifth, Moultrie sent the first pitch she saw over the fence for a solo home run, cutting the lead in half with one swing.
Haeger then helped her own cause by doubling to left before being taken out of the game in place of fellow freshman Brianna Little. Junior Kelsey Horton drove in Little to tie the game. Florida put the contest away when Arkansas’ Clarisa Navarro bobbled a Sami Fagan hit to allow Horton to score.
The pressure then fell on the arm of sophomore Hannah Rogers who came in to relieve Haeger. Rogers closed out the Razorbacks in the final three innings, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out five batters.
The Gators will look for the sweep against the Hogs on Sunday at 1 p.m. In three of its three-game sets this year, Florida has two sweeps while winning two out of three in the other. This would be Florida’s third sweep of the year.
