Walker, McLellan’s Heroics Propel No. 5 Florida Softball
Tied at two, with Karlyn Pickens in the circle, a historic Gator crowd at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium held their breaths as Madison Walker and Cassidy McLellan were due up to bat Saturday.
Back-to-back homers by the juniors off one of the best pitchers of the nation propelled No. 5 Florida softball to a bounce-back 5-2 victory against No. 1 Tennessee.
“They bring so much energy and then that gives us more energy and it makes the game so much more enjoyable for us on the field because we know that you guys are behind us,” UF pitcher Olivia Miller said about the Gator fans. It was the fourth largest crowd at KSP, with 2,635 people attending Game 2 of the series.
Katelynn Oxley got the start in the circle, the sophomore pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two runs with three strikeouts.
The Gators 30-2, 7-1 SEC) started the game off hot, going 1-2-3 defensively, and loading the bases in the first. However, for the second time in the series, Florida could not score a run with the bases loaded as Tennessee’s starting pitcher Erin Nuwer recovered quickly.
Tennessee (28-2, 6-2 SEC) made sure not to squander the opportunity after getting out of the jam. Oxley hit Alannah Leach with a pitch, before Elsa Morrison launched a ball to left center field in the next at-bat. The two-run homer gave the Lady Vols an early 2-0 lead.
Florida quickly bounced back, drawing two early walks in the second. Tennessee decided it had seen enough of Nuwer in the circle (for now) and brought on Pickens.
Despite not allowing any runs in three innings in Friday’s 2-1 win, Pickens did not have the same luck in her first inning. Ella Wesolowski scored off a wild pitch and Taylor Shumaker followed by tying the game at two off an error by second baseman Ella Dodge.
After getting into a jam early in the third, UF coach Tim Walton decided Oxley’s day in the circle was over. The sophomore was relieved by Miller. The junior quickly got the Gators out of the inning, knowing they had to capitalize in the bottom of the third.
Townsen Thomas got on base off a bunt, and advanced to second off a throwing error to get the offense started. Walker has proven she is no stranger to the big moments, walking off Missouri in the first SEC series of the season.
Against the Lady Vols, she ripped a ball down left center that just went over the fence, giving Florida a 4-2 lead. McLellan immediately followed by blasting a solo moonshot to right field, bringing KSP to its feet.
“Facing a pitching staff as good as Tennessee’s, any ball you hit hard is gonna feel really good,” Walker said. “It was awesome to see how quick it got out.”
After McLellan’s homer, Pickens’ day was over and Nuwer was brought back into the circle by Tennessee coach Karen Weekly.
After the three-run rally in the third inning, it became Miller time.
Miller (4-0) pitched 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out two. The junior achieved three 1-2-3 innings in a row on her way to her first career SEC victory.
“The only reason I’m able to excel is for me to have confidence in my team, my defense and my offense, and I absolutely have,” Miller said. “I bet on them any and every single day.”
The Gators snapped a six-game losing streak against the Lady Volunteers in the Yellow Game. The Gators wear sunflowers in their hair every Saturday in remembrance of Heather Braswell, an honorary member of the program from 2009-14 and a fixture in the team’s dugout.
The teams will battle it out in the rubber game of the series starting at noon Sunday (ESPN2).
Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Softball
