Gators graduate student third baseman Charla Echols changed the game's momentum in the fifth inning after she grounded out to third base, and junior outfielder Katie Kistler scored.
The run was Florida’s first score of the game and brought them within two against the Cal State Fullerton Titans. Echols sparked the Gators' offense as they tied up the game in the sixth inning after junior first baseman Avery Goelz scored.
The Gators took the lead in extra innings after Kistler brought Goelz home and put Florida up by one run. However, Cal State Fullerton junior infielder Hannah Becerra smashed the game-winning home run to walk it off against the Gators.
The No. 3 Florida Gators (11-3) were defeated by Cal State Fullerton (9-6) 5-4 Saturday to finish their doubleheader in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Big League Dreams-Yankee Sports Park.
Titans sophomore right-handed pitcher Haley Rainey kept the Gators scoreless even after Echols reached on a two-out walk and then moved to second base on a wild pitch to try and score a run for Florida was not able to quite pull through to end the top of the first.
UF right-handed pitcher sophomore Lexi Delbrey started in the circle for Florida for their second doubleheader game. Delbrey shut down the Titans in the bottom of the first to give them no chance to score.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Olivia Gigante walked and made her way to second base but was quickly caught out by Rainey to end the top of the second. Delbrey kept the Titans scoreless as she picked up a strikeout to bring the Gators back to home plate at the bottom of the second.
Rainey continued to strike out Florida at the top of the third and kept the shutout intact. In the bottom of the third, Titans senior utility player Alex Neil grounded out to third base, which allowed Megan Delgadillo to advance to third. Junior outfielder Antuanett Dean came home from third to score the first run of the game.
Becerra homered to left field for two runs to push the lead to 3-0 to end the third inning.
Rainey added another strikeout against the Gators to end the top of the fourth inning. Cal State Fullerton senior outfielder Evelyn Sablan hit a leadoff single to start the bottom of the fourth inning.
Florida brought graduate student Elizabeth Hightower into the game to replace Delbrey. Hightower kept the Titans scoreless to end the fourth.
Kistler led off the frame with a walk, and sophomore outfielder Kendra Falby singled up the middle to advance Kistler to second base. Echols grounded out to third base, and Kistler scored to bring Florida within two at the top of the fifth.
Hightower and the Gators' defense kept the Titans from adding more to the scoreboard to end the fifth inning, up 3-1.
Gigante led the top of the sixth inning with a single up the middle, and redshirt sophomore outfielder Christina Wellen came in to pinch-run for her. Wellen got out on second base after she tried to make it to second, but a fake throw by Cal State Fullerton confused her to where she didn't know where the ball would be thrown.
Kistler reached on a fielding error by the Titans shortstop, and sophomore catcher Sam Roe scored to make it a one-run game. Falby singled through the right side, and Goelz scored to tie the game 3-3 in the top of the sixth inning.
Hightower and the Gators' defense kept the Titans off the scoreboard with a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the sixth. Both teams failed to score in the seventh inning to push the game into extra innings.
Kistler drove home Goelz with a line-drive single through the left side to take a one-run lead 4-3. Florida had a runner, but Cal State Fullerton had a quick 6-3-5 double play to end the top of the eighth.
Neil singled to left field to advance to second base. Becerra homered to left field for two runs batted in to walk it off against the Gators in a 5-4 victory.
Florida is set to play the University of Alabama Birmingham at 7 p.m. Friday in Mary Bowzers Field.
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.
