Graduate student Elizabeth Hightower and the Gators’ defense kept the Eagles off the scoreboard. Boston College continuously switched pitchers to try to keep their chances alive, but their efforts came up short.
The No. 4 Florida Gators (2-0) defeated the Boston College Eagles (3-1) 9-0 Saturday afternoon. They won their first game of the season, 11-2, Friday against the Boston Terriers.
The Gators’ history with the Eagles is brief; they’ve only met once before, back in 2014. Florida defeated the Eagles 7-3 in the previous matchup.
Boston College was scoreless in the top of the first inning against the Gators’ defense. In the bottom of the first inning, Hightower — who made her first start of the 2023 season — retired the side in order and struck out a pair.
Florida sophomore Kendra Falby faced Boston College pitcher graduate student Susanna Anderson and singled to third base. Falby’s hit moved redshirt junior Baylee Goddard to third.
UF redshirt junior Skylar Wallace drew a walk as graduate student Charla Echols came up to bat. She swung and singled to left field for two runs batted in. Echols stole second, which allowed Wallace to steal third.
Florida sophomore Reagan Walsh reached on a fielder's choice to bring Wallace home. Sophomore Gator Sam Roe was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Junior Avery Goelz doubled down the infield line and racked up two RBI. The Gators led 5-0 at the bottom of the first.
Hightower was back on the mound at the top of the second and struck the Eagles out again, leaving them scoreless at the top of the second. Hightower and Florida’s defense turned another one-two-three inning out into the field.
In the bottom of the second, the Gators drew three consecutive walks to load the bases.
Roe hit a two-RBI single to left center to bring Wallace and Goddard home and extend Florida’s lead to seven runs. Senior Sarah Longley singled down the infield line two at-bats later and Roe and Walsh scored to push the lead to 9-0.
Hightower struck out Boston College freshman Aleyah Terrell to start the third inning and continued to prevent the Eagles from getting on base. She struck out seven Eagles and held Boston College to just one hit Saturday afternoon.
Falby grounded out to shortstop, and Wallace flew out to infield to start the bottom of the third.
Boston College made a pitching change and brought in sophomore Abby Dunning. She forced Roe to line out at second base to end the inning. The change in pitchers left the Gators scoreless in the bottom of the third.
At the top of the fourth, junior Nicole Giery doubled down the right field line for the Eagle’s only hit of the game. Boston College junior Maddy Carpe walked to first base, but Wallace turned a double play, and Hightower capped the frame with a strikeout.
Goelz singled through the left side to start the bottom of the fourth. She was out after she was caught stealing with a runner to end the inning.
Hightower struck out Eagles sophomore Zoey Hines to end the game. The Gators blew out the Boston College Eagles 9-0 for their second win of the season.
Florida will take on Illinois State at 2 p.m. Saturday to finish the doubleheader.
Contact Alyssa Britton-Harr abritton-harr@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @abrittonharr.
Alyssa Britton-Harr is a second-year journalism major and a sports reporter for The Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spending time with her friends.
