For nine members of Florida’s softball team — seven players and two coaches — the annual Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, California, is a homecoming — a chance to play in front of friends and family that live thousands of miles away.
The normally brutal California desert was welcoming to the Gators on Thursday, as No. 1 Florida (12-0) beat No. 10 UCLA (7-4) by a slim 2-1 margin behind six strong innings from junior southpaw Delanie Gourley, a Lakeside, California, native.
But things didn’t always look so warm, with the game’s outlook appearing bleak in the early moments.
After Florida went scoreless in the top of the first, Gourley got into trouble in the bottom of the inning, allowing the Bruins to load the bases on a walk, a single and a hit-batter.
But on a grounder to second base, sophomore Nicole DeWitt scooped up the ball, stepped on the bag and then fired home for the force out to complete the double play.
Gourley then struck out the next batter looking, leaving the inning unscathed.
Florida bounced back in the top of the second, piecing together a two-out rally. Senior catcher Aubree Munro earned a walk, then advanced to second on a Justine McLean single.
Leadoff hitter Kelsey Stewart followed with a single up the middle to score Munro, earning her second RBI of the season and providing the Gators a 1-0 advantage.
UF’s small-ball attack struck again in the fourth.
Freshman Amanda Lorenz continued her hot hitting with a single to left field that scored Stewart and stretched the lead to 2-0.
That was all Gourley needed.
Most times UCLA attempted to rally offensively, she was able to escape, stranding eight runners on base throughout the night.
The Bruins’ lone run came in the bottom of the sixth.
Designated hitter Taylor Pack stroked an RBI-double to right center, cutting the Gators’ lead in half and ending Gourley’s scoreless streak at 27 innings.
Sophomore Aleshia Ocasio entered the game in the seventh, retiring all three batters she faced and earning her second save.
UF’s defense continued its stellar play this season.
Florida has not committed an error in 67 innings, and has only one on the season. Heading into the game, the Gators lead the nation with a .996 team fielding percentage.
In Game 2 of its doubleheader on Thursday night, the Gators struck early against N.C. State Wolfpack, and Kelly Barnhill took care of the rest.
Sophomore second baseman Nicole DeWitt slugged a two-run homer in the top of the first and Barnhill pitched a complete-game gem as the No. 1 Gators (13-0) defeated North Carolina State (5-6) by a score of 5-2 late Thursday night.
Barnhill was electric in the circle, striking out a career-high 14 batters, becoming just the third UF freshman to record ten strikeouts in a game in the last decade.
Coming into the day, the Gators already ranked second in the country with a microscopic team earned run average of 0.45, a number that will only dwindle further after tonight.
Back-to-back doubles by Lorenz and senior Taylore Fuller gave Florida a 3-0 lead in the top of the third. The Gators were able to push the advantage to 5-0 in the sixth on a Jannell Wheaton single with the bases loaded.
UF’s victory in the nightcap sealed its sweep of the first day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, California.
The Gators continue their road trip in Palm Springs on Friday, with matchups against Washington and Nebraska slated for 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively.
Contact Brian Lee at blee@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @brianlee_17.
Delanie Gourley pitches during Florida's 14-10 loss to LSU on March 14, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
