Despite a five-run comeback in the fourth inning, No. 5 Florida
(30-6, 7-5 Southeastern Conference) let the lead slip away as No.
23 Kentucky (24-7, 10-3 SEC) staged its own comeback in a 7-6 win,
handing UF its fifth-straight loss.
For the third start in a row, freshman Hannah Rogers wasn’t on her
game.
The young righty surrendered six earned runs on nine hits and three
walks, as the Wildcats pounced on her early.
Outfielder Meagan Aull led off the bottom of the first with a home
run to center, before cleanup hitter Brittany Cervantes knocked a
two-run shot of her own.
However, the Gators seemed to take control in the fourth inning
when they struck for five runs on three hits.
Pinch-hitting for Kasey Fagan, Samantha Holle came up with a clutch
two-run double.
The biggest hit of the inning was Aja Paculba’s monster three-run
homer, her 11th of the season.
The shot gave Florida a brief lead, but it wouldn’t even last an
inning.
The Wildcats strung together four hits and an error by shortstop
Cheyenne Coyle to put up the game’s final four runs.
It was a frustrating inning for Rogers as five consecutive batters
reached base.
Aull and Cervantes proved problematic again as they accounted for
three RBIs, totaling seven in the first two games of the
series.
Holding onto a one-run lead, UK rode the arm of Rachel Riley for
the remaining three innings.
The Gators couldn’t muster much against the junior who allowed only
one hit while striking out four batters, as she picked up her
seventh win.
