Kentucky junior infielder Grace Lorsung homered to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning to score the first run of the game.
Wildcats sophomore pitcher Alexia Lacatena then held Florida scoreless through the seventh to secure the victory with Lorsung’s home run.
The No. 16 Florida Gators (35-19, 11-13 SEC) lost to the No. 23 Kentucky Wildcats 1-0 Sunday afternoon in John Cropp Stadium.
Lacatena walked redshirt junior Skylar Wallace to start the top frame of the first. Wallace then stole second, but graduate student utility player Pal Egan failed to bring Wallace home after she hit a popup to end the half.
UF graduate student right-handed pitcher Elizabeth Hightower walked junior infielder Erin Coffel where she then advanced to second after sophomore outfielder Taylor Ebbs grounded out to sophomore second baseman Reagan Walsh. However, Hightower and the Gators’ defense ended the inning with Coffel stranded on second to end the first inning.
Florida junior catcher Emily Wilkie singled to first base, but she was caught out when junior outfielder Katie Kistler lined into a double play.
Lacatena walked junior first baseman Avery Goelz, but a fly out from senior utility player Sarah Longley ended the top frame of the second. Hightower and the Gators held Kentucky scoreless through the bottom half of the second.
Lacatena walked Wallace to start the top frame of the third. Florida graduate student third baseman Charla Echols hit into a double play, and Wallace was caught out to end the half.
Wildcats sophomore infielder Margaret Tobias singled to second base and advanced to second after graduate student Kayla Kowalik singled to third base. However, a popup and a groundout ended the inning with no runs scored.
Walsh hit a leadoff double down the left field line to start the top of the fourth. Lacatena then walked Kistler, but a fly out from Goelz failed to bring in a run to end the half.
Redshirt freshman outfielder Jenna Blanton singled to the catcher, but was caught out when Harrison hit into a double play to end the fourth.
Kentucky held Florida scoreless through the top of the fifth after two groudouts and a popup. Tobias singled up the middle, but she was caught out at second when Kowalik reached on a fielder's choice.
Hightower walked Coffel and advanced Kowalik, but a fly out from Ebbs ended the inning.
UF failed to score any runs in the bottom of the sixth after Walsh and Echols flied out to left field, and Egan fouled out. Lorsung homered to left field to score the first run of the entire game and give Kentucky the lead.
Freshman infielder Kaila Pollard singled to center field and then Kistler pinch-hit for Pollard. Sophomore catcher Sam Roe doubled down the right field line and advanced Kistler to third, but a pop from Falby ended the game.
The Wildcats ended the game 1-0 to win the series.
UF will be playing in the Southeastern Conference Tournament starting Tuesday in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
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.
