As the saying goes, catastrophes typically come in threes.
For Florida’s softball team, Friday night’s contest against Georgia was no different.
The Bulldogs defeated the Gators 5-4 in the first of a three-game series at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens.
The Gators (22-2, 3-1 SEC) got on the board early, scoring in the top of the first with the help of first baseman Kayli Kvistad. Kvistad hit a double off the wall in center field, scoring teammate Amanda Lorenz from first to give UF a 1-0 lead.
But then, the unexpected happened.
Not one, not two, but three home runs were crushed back-to-back-to-back by Georgia (25-1, 4-0 SEC) in the bottom of the frame.
The dingers, hit by shortstop Alyssa DiCarlo, first baseman Alysen Febrey and catcher Mahlena O’Neal, put Georgia up 3-1.
The Gators didn’t get discouraged by the series of home runs. They quickly responded in the top of the second when utility player Aleshia Ocasio stepped up to plate and sent a two-run bomb over the wall in right field to knot the score at three.
Florida remained tied with the Bulldogs until the top of the sixth when Ocasio stepped up to the plate again, hitting a fielder’s choice up the middle that scored baserunner Haven Sampson to give the Gators a 4-3 advantage.
Despite the extra run, it wasn’t enough to keep the edge over the Bulldogs.
Georgia’s Febrey stepped up to plate once again in the bottom of the seventh, ending the night the same way she started – with another home run.
This time, the homer to right center field allowed her and base runner Tiffani Railey to run toward their teammates awaiting them at home plate, celebrating a tough walk-off victory over the Gators with shouts of joy.
The night brought many catastrophes for the Gators.
It started with the three home runs scored by the Bulldogs, one after another, in the bottom of the first.
A less than average performance by starting pitcher Kelly Barnhill, who allowed the first three homers and recorded three illegal pitches, also contributed to the loss.
Lorenz — the Gators’ leader in batting average — struck out three times in three at-bats as well.
The night ended with another home run for the Bulldogs, except this time it was allowed by Ocasio, who relieved Barnhill in the bottom of the third.
Florida’s softball team will hope to rally back from the loss tomorrow at 2 p.m. when its takes the field at the Jack Turner Softball Stadium.
Follow Mari Faiello on Twitter @faiello_mari and contact her at mfaiello@alligator.org.
First baseman Kayli Kvistad went 1-of-2 from the plate with an RBI double in the first inning Friday against Georgia.
