Florida Softball’s Unbeaten Streak Survives Longwood in Doubleheader
It was a Sunflower Saturday sweep for the No. 4 Gators who won their 17th and 18th games against Lindenwood (6-6) and Longwood (1-11).
However, it was not all sunshine and rainbows for the Gators as the Lancers gave them its toughest battle of the season.
Game 2 vs. Longwood
The Lancers showed Florida (18-0) that this game was not going to be the same as Friday’s. Pitcher Maggie Chapin held the Gators hitless through two innings, and struck out four in that time.
Florida Golf Coast transfer Allison Sparkman got the start in the circle for the first time in her Gator career. Her first start wearing the Orange and Blue was short-lived as the junior was relieved by freshman Leah Stevens after 2.1 innings pitched. Sparkman had no strikeouts and allowed one hit in her time in the circle.
Stevens pitched 1 2/3 innings and let up four runs with three strikeouts. She was replaced by LHP Olivia Miller to start the fifth.
Miller took control of the game as soon as she checked in, halting the Lancers offense in their tracks. A heroic outing by Miller gave her a 3-0 record on the year and ended the game with one hit and one strikeout.
The Gators got out to an uncharacteristically slow start, as they were held scoreless through two innings for the first time since Sunday. Longwood took an early lead in the third as Brooke Bennett homered off Stevens for a 2-0 lead, ending Florida’s four game shutout streak.
Kenleigh Cahalan broke the ice off the Gators bats as she popped up a ball that dropped before the Lancers could get to it, she notched an RBI double to tie the game at two.
Longwood would take that lead right back off a Lauren Faulkner two-run home run in the fourth, the second moonshot off Stevens to give them a 4-2 lead.
Down two-runs in the bottom of the fifth, the Gators looked like they were headed for the season’s first loss. However, a tough Florida team had other plans. After pitching 119 times, Chapin let her guard down, allowing two wild pitches and a sacrifice fly to give the Gators its first lead of the game, 5-4.
Florida would not stop there. With the crowd back in the game, it had all the momentum.
Shumaker followed up with a sacrifice fly to score Madison Walker for a two-run lead. Jocelyn Erickson put the final nail in Longwood’s coffin as she gave the Gators a four-run lead off a two-run moonshot to right field.
Florida converted a 4-2 deficit into a 9-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth, flipping the game on its head.
In the bottom of the sixth, wild pitches continued to be the story for Longwood. Comia and Thomas scored off a WP to make it 11-4. Grover went on to end the game on an RBI single that scored Shumaker
The Gators fought hard in an unexpected test against Longwood to capture their 18th win 12-4. Florida went from being against the ropes to another run-rule victory.
Game 1 vs. Lindenwood
Ava Brown showed why she’s one of the best two-way players in the nation as the captain earned her fifth win and hit her fifth home run of the season as the Gators beat the Lindenwood Lions 8-0 in five innings Saturday.
Brown threw two hits and a career-high seven strikeouts against the Lions. Brown’s previous career high was when she threw six last March against Jacksonville University.
The Gators brought eight hitters up to the plate and scored two in the first as Lindenwood starter Ryleigh Owens gave up three hits and two walks.
Florida added to its third-ranked home run total with Brown’s third-inning solo shot and a three-run bomb by Kenleigh Cahalan, her team-leading seventh of the season, in the fourth.
The Gators would get two more runs in the fourth thanks to singles from second baseman Gabi Comia and centerfielder Townsen Thomas.
Brown threw her second complete game of the season as the Gators pitching staff threw its fourth straight shutout.
The Gators will play their final game of the Florida Tournament Sunday at 11:30 a.m. against Middle Tennessee (5-8).
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Softball
