Junior third baseman Charla Echols stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and two outs to clutch the dub with a walk-off RBI single.
It was the eighth RBI of the night and would have certainly resulted in more than one run if not for the mercy rule. Florida maintains its perfect record and improves to 9-0 after a poised 8-0 blowout over UNF Thursday evening.
The Gators’ stellar performance at home plate racked up 11 hits total.
The team collected five hits and four of their eight runs in the fifth inning. Sophomore catcher Julia Cottrill ripped a double to right field. Sophomore utility player Sarah Longley, junior outfielder Cheyenne Lindsey and senior infielder Hannah Adams each collected an RBI single, and Echols placed the cherry on top with her walk-off hit.
Senior Kendyl Lindaman accounted for two hits and runs with a pair of RBI doubles to right field. In the first inning, Adams whipped a single to center field and, in the fourth, Lindsey managed a single to left. Cottrill also collected an RBI in the first inning, as did freshman Avery Goelz, who started at first base for the Gators.
UNF cycled through four pitchers in five innings. It settled on freshman Halle Arends, who returned in the fifth inning.
The Ospreys made it on base three times. Florida pitcher Natalie Lugo walked two players and allowed two hits through four innings before being relieved by sophomore Rylee Trlicek.
“I thought she (Lugo) did a really good job,” head coach Tim Walton said about the pitching change. “It’s just knowing my players and reading body language and trying to get them to look to this hitter as opposed to the last hitter.”
Trlicek didn’t have to spend much time in the circle, however. She entered at the top of the fifth and retired the Ospreys in order. This opened up the door for Florida to step into its fifth shut-out and third mercy-rule win of the season.
“We have a chance to be a really good offensive team,” Echols said. “It’s going to be exciting to see us the rest of the year.”
Florida will host Louisville (3-4) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Saturday.
Contact Rachel Slay at rslay@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @racheljslay
