For the second week in a row, Florida’s track and field teams shined despite a rain delay at the LSU Invitational. The Gators were also represented at the Penn Relays.
Chelsea Herndon doesn’t get much playing time.
Amanda Lorenz stepped off the bus in College Station, Texas, with six home runs in her freshman season and four since April 8. But hitting a home run is one thing. Hitting your first career grand slam on an 0-2 pitch against a top-ranked Southeastern Conference rival to put the series-opener out of reach is another. Her bases-clearing homer drove in the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th runs of No. 1 Florida’s sixth-inning rally in its commanding and convincing 14-3 win over No. 18 Texas A&M on Friday. “Getting the fourth run of the game was huge, and being able to throw up 10 runs in the sixth was great as well,” coach Tim Walton said in a release. “I was really working hard over to scratch and claw to get us some more runs. I didn’t think four was enough, as Texas A&M has a great offense.” Neither team scored in the first, but Gators’ pitcher Delanie Gourley got off to a quick start. The junior southpaw retired her first batter after one pitch and went on to throw three innings and four strikeouts before letting a batter reach base. Florida’s (46-3, 16-3 SEC) offense struck in the second inning after Janell Wheaton was hit by a pitch and maneuvered her way around the basepath to third via an error on a fielder’s choice. Wheaton put UF up 1-0 after scoring on a throwing error by the Texas A&M catcher as junior Justine McLean stole second. Wheaton helped Florida tack on three more runs in the top of the third. The sophomore hit a double to centerfield to drive in two more runs before she scored on a base hit by Taylore Fuller. Texas A&M (34-14, 6-12 SEC) slowly began to pull itself back into the contest. In the fourth, the Aggies pulled within two runs after a leadoff single and an ensuing throwing error from Gourley. A fifth-inning home run from Aggie freshman Samantha Show cut Florida’s lead to 4-3. But just as Texas A&M came close, Florida’s bats caught fire. The 10-run rally in the top of the sixth started with Kirsti Merritt and Nicole DeWitt stringing a couple singles together to go up 6-3. A two-RBI single from catcher Aubree Munro and an RBI double from sophomore Aleshia Ocasio, a UF pitcher with just 10 at-bats on the year, followed. A bases-loaded walk put the Gators up 10-3, and Lorenz’s home run sealed the deal. After her hit, Ocasio closed the game out in the bottom of the sixth because of the eight-run rule. “Both of our pitchers did a great job,” Walton said, saying Ocasio specifically changed the game’s momentum when she came in. With the win, UF reached a 16-3 SEC record, its best mark since 2012. UF will play Game 2 of its series with the Aggies at 1 p.m. in College Station, Texas.
Nick Horvath didn’t take a single right-handed swing in batting practice before Friday night’s game against South Carolina.
Florida defensive back Vernon Hargreaves is headed home.
The No. 1 Florida women’s tennis has come a long way since losing to then-No. 1 California on Feb. 26 and to then-No. 16 Stanford on Feb. 28.
In what was tabbed as a marquee pitching duel between two potential first-round talents, the series opener between No. 2 Florida and Georgia turned into an extra-innings affair that ultimately came down to production from the bullpen and a timely hit.
The first two minutes of Wednesday’s game against Cincinnati was one to forget for Florida.
When Amanda Lorenz stepped to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning, only one thing mattered.
When I walked through the doors of this old building back in January 2014, I was in limbo.
I get overly sentimental about sports.
I can’t believe that I’m writing this.
During Round 2 of the Southeastern Conference Championship, Florida golfer Sam Horsfield hit his second shot into the par-4 fourth at the Sea Island Golf Club.
After a 4-0 road stretch last week, the No. 2 Gators are rolling.
On Monday, Florida women’s tennis coach Roland Thornqvist had a smile on his face.
In the practice gym and on the competition floor, the departing senior class of Bridgette Caquatto, Bianca Dancose-Giambattisto, Morgan Frazier and Bridget Sloan led by example.
Six former Gators were featured on Opening Day rosters with another five on 40-man rosters, giving Florida a conference-best 11 major leaguers.
The No. 2 Florida lacrosse team has been a thorn in the side of most of its opponents this season.
Florida coach Mike Holloway normally approaches each track meet the same way.
Kelly Barnhill stood in the pitcher’s circle, having given up a leadoff hit and a walk in the top of the second inning.
Solutions by The State News
