Ole Miss right-hander Carly Hummel could not slow down the Gators on Sunday.
After handing Florida its first shutout loss on Friday since the Gators’ 3-0 loss to Texas on June 2, 2013, in the Women’s College World Series, the Rebels senior fell flat in Game 3 of UF’s first Southeastern Conference series of the season.
The No. 1 Gators (24-1, 2-1 SEC) plated six hits from six different batters as they topped the Rebels 2-0 on Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium to take the series.
“We came out determined to win because we weren’t going to let them beat us again,” senior Stephanie Tofft said.
“It was good. They put up a good fight. They’re a good team, but it was just an overall great team effort on our part.”
Added coach Tim Walton: “Against a good pitcher, when you find a way to score, you’ve got to do it and take advantage of some opportunities.”
That’s exactly what Florida did.
With the game scoreless in the fourth inning, Tofft blasted her fourth home run of the season to center field to give the Gators a 1-0 advantage.
“I thought it was kind of a pop-up, but I was hustling, too, just in case she dropped it,” the third baseman said. “But it ended up going over, so it worked out.”
One inning later, freshman Chelsea Herndon — making just her sixth start of the season — hit a leadoff home run to right field to wrap up the scoring for Florida.
“Chelsea did a great job coming up the next inning and keeping it going, not just letting us go flat after one run,” Tofft said. “She kept it going a little bit, even if it was only one more run. She did a really good job staying on it and driving one.”
While Florida was able to generate production at the plate, Delanie Gourley made sure Ole Miss (15-9, 1-2 SEC) remained stagnant in her first conference start. The freshman left-hander threw a three-hit complete game shutout, logging four strikeouts while walking only two batters.
“I was just really excited and ready to go,” Gourley said.
“This morning, I was just preparing myself and I was like, ‘Hey, it’s my first start. I’m just going to show them what I have and pitch how I know how.’”
To close out the series, Walton utilized a different lineup than he has used all season.
Herndon and junior Briana Little, who have mostly contributed from the bench, started in right and left field, respectively. Freshman Justine McLean moved from her usual spot in left field to center.
Herndon and Little have thrived in their minimal playing time this season.
Herndon is batting .348 and has a .652 slugging clip to go along with seven RBIs and nine runs.
Little leads the team with a .609 on-base percentage and has a .333 clip at the plate. Against the Rebels on Sunday, the Middleburg native made it to base each time she stepped up to the plate.
“We’ve got to find a way to get Chelsea in the lineup, and that was the way to do that,” Walton said. “Obviously, taking Bailey [Castro] out, Bri goes into the lineup because you can’t play them both.”
In the infield, sophomore Kirsti Merritt took the start at second base, while Kelsey Stewart moved from second to shortstop over regular starter Katie Medina.
“I took Katie out and tried to get a little more production out of our offense,” Walton said.
“What we’re trying to do is just find a way to put the best team on the field on that given day to win the game.”
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Chelsea Herndon swings during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
