The Florida softball team rallies to beat UCF 10-6 in a Sunshine State matchup Wednesday in Orlando. Florida improved to 31-4 on the year, while the Knights fell to 24-11.
Senior Hannah Rogers ran her record to 14-3 on the season after working four innings, giving up three earned runs on four hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
The Knights got on the board in the first with a two-run double. In the top of the second, sophomore Taylor Schwarz homered off high-school teammate Shelby Turnier to cut the UCF lead to 2-1.
The Orange and Blue scored seven runs in the fourth. After the first three batters reached base on two walks and a fielder’s choice, sophomore shortstop Kelsey Stewart gave the Gators the lead with a two-run double that plated junior Briana Little and freshman Justine McLean. Following a walk to Kirsti Merritt, senior third baseman Stephanie Tofft doubled down the left-field line to push the UF lead to 4-2. The rally continued when junior Bailey Castro walked and freshman Chelsea Herndon reached on a wild third strike to set up a grand slam from sophomore Taylore Fuller that gave Rogers an 8-2 cushion.
UCF got one run back in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single to left. Freshman southpaw Delanie Gourley replaced Rogers in the circle in the fifth. Little and McLean smacked RBI singles in the sixth to increase the Gator lead to 10-3.
The Knights plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth on a bases-loaded groundout and a two-run single, producing the final margin in Florida’s 10-6 win.
The Gators will resume SEC play this weekend when they travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, for a three-game series against No. 2/3 Tennessee. Friday’s opener is scheduled for 6 p.m.
To hear comments from Head Coach Tim Walton about this weekend’s series, click on the link below: