No. 1 Florida edged Southeastern Conference rival No. 16 Tennessee 4-2 on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The Gators (29-1, 4-1 SEC) got out to an early lead, let the Volunteers (21-7, 3-2 SEC) rally, and then climbed ahead late.
Freshman Kelly Barnhill retired Tennessee’s first nine batters, silencing the UT offense.
Florida scored the first runs of the game in the bottom of the first. Looping base hits landed safely off the bats of senior Kelsey Stewart and sophomore Kayli Kvistad. Sophomore Nicole DeWitt stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, and hit a groundball base hit through the right side, putting the Gators up 2-0.
“Attacking first is always important,” DeWitt said. “I think it also helps out our pitchers, too, knowing that they have runs on the board.”
The Volunteers nearly got to Barnhill in the fourth inning. But with the bases loaded and one out, Barnhill struck out the next two batters in clutch fashion to preserve UF’s lead.
Florida finally cracked in the fifth. With two outs and the bases loaded, UT’s Megan Geer hit a groundball past the diving DeWitt at second base. Runners on second and third scored to square the game 2-2.
But DeWitt got a chance to put Florida back in front. After a hit batter and two walks, DeWitt stood at the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. With the game on the line, UT pitcher Rainey Gaffin walked DeWitt on four pitches.
The Gators took that 3-2 lead and added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Kvistad hit an RBI single to center to give the Gators the 4-2 edge.
Sophomore Aleshia Ocasio came in to relieve Barnhill in the sixth. Ocasio allowed no hits or runs and retired the remaining 6 batters, giving Florida the win.
Coach Tim Walton was impressed with Barnhill’s 10th win and Ocasio’s third save.
“I can’t say enough about our pitching staff,” Walton said. “It’s so comforting to have that kind of weapon (Ocasio) sitting for you. You look at their statistics ... I’m very happy with the way they’re working, and they all compliment each other so well.”
The Gators and Volunteers finish up their three-game series Sunday at 4 p.m.
Contact Matt Brannon at mbrannon@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @MattB_727.
Kelly Barnhill pitches during the second game of UF's doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville on Feb. 27, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
