The moods in the home and visiting dugouts were polar opposites.
The team dressed in blue and orange straddled the fence, straight faced and yelled out words of encouragement to its batters.
The team dressed in white and crimson stood on top of the bench, smiling, clapping and dancing with joy.
No. 5 Alabama was the first ball club to come into Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium and sweep the No. 6 Gators in a three-game homestand since the Georgia Bulldogs in 2011. It had fun doing it, too.
Florida was outscored 12-2 for the series and lost to the Crimson Tide 3-0 Saturday. The Gators accumulated more hits than its opponent (seven to five) to go along with two walks despite being held scoreless.
UF (37-12, 9-9 SEC) struggled with runners on base in Game 3, going 1 for 17 and 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. The team finished 0 for 19 on the weekend in potential scoring situations.
The frustration stemmed from the middle of the lineup, particularly designated player Jordan Roberts in four spot and first baseman Jordan Matthews in the five.
Roberts went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts, two of which came with teammates on second or third. Matthews also went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts with runners in scoring position. They struck out on back-to-back scoring opportunities in the first and third innings.
“For two or three of those players that stranded more than half of those runners, that’s been the M.O. for them all season long,” coach Tim Walton said. “Unfortunately, I wish I could say that’s uncharacteristic of us. It’s not.”
The best chance came in the bottom of the sixth when the Gators had players on second and third with one out.
Alex Voss, who pinch ran for Matthews after a leadoff walk, and Sophia Reynoso, who reached on a fielder’s choice, advanced on a Jaimie Hoover ground out. Then, Adams lined out to the shortstop, and Voss was called out trying to slide back into third for an inning-ending double play.
The play was close, and Walton was ejected after arguing the call.
Pitcher Kelly Barnhill allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks in seven innings. Alabama (45-4, 14-4 SEC) made the most of its chances against her.
The visitors scored after a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Claire Jenkins with catcher Reagan Dykes on first via a walk. A fielding error by Matthews allowed Dykes to advance to third, and she stole home when she realized nobody was covering the plate. Both pitcher Kelly Barnhill and catcher Kendyl Lindaman went to cover third base for Sipos, who fielded the bunt.
“The problem with that play was the third baseman was the one that threw the play,” Walton said. “Since her base is covered, she has got to fill in where the catcher’s sport was.”
Right fielder KB Sides added two insurance runs in the fourth with a two-run home run that snaked just inside the right-field foul pole. It was her second of the season, and Barnhill’s 13th allowed of the year.
“The better team won this weekend,” Walton said. “It’s a fact.”
Follow Mark Stine on Twitter @mstinejr and contact him at mstine@alligator.org.
First baseman Amanda Lorenz was Florida's only multi-hit player in Saturday's 3-0 loss to Alabama.
