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Though Senior Day isn’t officially until Saturday, Friday night was all about Florida’s seniors. The Gator seniors shone Friday night as the top-ranked Florida softball team (50-3) defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks (17-37) 9-0 to take the first game of the series against the Razorbacks. Seniors Kelsey Stewart, Kirsti Merritt and Taylore Fuller all recorded home runs during the victory.
The Gators jumped on the board early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Stewart scored first off a RBI from Kayli Kvistad. Moments later, freshman Amanda Lorenz added her own run off an RBI from Merritt. Kvistad scored the inning’s final run on a double steal.
The Gators continued the scoring trend in the bottom of the second, as Stewart scored yet again, blasting a home run to right to give the Gators a 4-0 lead.
Both teams were held scoreless in the next two innings, but the Gators took off in the fifth, scoring five runs. Merritt scored the first run of the inning with a home run and Nicole DeWitt then scored off an RBI from Janell Wheaton. Fuller finished with a three-run homer, her eighth home run of the season, and the Gators defeated the Razorbacks 9-0 in five innings.
Here it is, Gator Nation! Taylore Fuller's walk off homer! #GoGators #LastOneBestOne pic.twitter.com/LDLF3J4CWR
— Gator Softball (@GatorsSB) May 6, 2016
Following the game, Fuller said it was nice to get the walk-off homer in front of her family and in front of her fellow seniors’ families as well.
Though the spotlight was on Florida’s offense Friday night, the Gator pitching was strong as well. Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio finished in the circle allowing no runs while giving up three hits and striking out five batters.
The Gators will be going for the series win on Saturday versus the Razorbacks at 1:00 p.m. Florida’s seniors will be honored in a ceremony before the game.
