Briana Little had a big hit on Wednesday night.
Little hit a grand slam to help Florida earn an 11-3 victory against Jacksonville at the JU Softball Complex in Jacksonville. The homer was Little’s only hit of the night, but it was more than enough for UF.
“After letting the first pitch go, I knew if she pitched it down the middle again, I was going to hit it hard,” Little said. “I just relaxed and watched it fly out there.”
The sophomore outfielder’s shot came in front of familiar eyes. The Middleburg native found comfort playing near her hometown.
“It was really nice to have my parents and friends from home come see me play,” Little said. “It definitely helps having that support.”
The Dolphins took a 1-0 lead in the third, but sophomore Bailey Castro stepped got the Gators on the board.
Castro tied the score in the fourth with a solo home run, sparking a three-run inning.
“I just felt super excited knowing I helped my team out,” Castro said.
Florida took advantage of Jacksonville starter Taylor Rossman on Wednesday night. The Gators tagged the freshman hurler for 11 runs on 10 hits.
“We did a great job coming back after the third and not giving into Jacksonville’s tougher players,” coach Tim Walton said.
Freshman Kelsey Stewart was another key contributor to UF’s offensive barrage. She finished 3 for 5 at the plate. Stewart’s third hit was a two-run triple.
“Kelsey really plays hard out there and raises the level for us,” Little said.
Despite a productive night with the bats, the Gators only needed Little’s grand slam.
Alhough Hannah Rogers did not pitch up to her usual standards, she still surrendered only three runs on seven hits in seven innings of work. She fanned five batters and walked five.
“We have a lot of strong players that contributed great plays,” Castro said. “But, it took all [16] of us to get that win.”
Junior Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 3-2 victory against Auburn on April 13 at Pressly Stadium. Rogers had her no-hitter reversed in a 4-1 win against Drake on Saturday. The right-hander finished the game with a one-hitter.
