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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Florida drops Game 2 of Super Regional to force rubber match

<p>UF starting pitcher Aleshia Ocasio gave up a season-high five runs against Texas A&amp;M, who got a hit in every inning off the UF senior.&nbsp;</p>

UF starting pitcher Aleshia Ocasio gave up a season-high five runs against Texas A&M, who got a hit in every inning off the UF senior. 

With her team down one run, UF pinch hitter Danielle Romanello stepped up to the plate with two outs, a runner on first and an opportunity to ignite a seventh-inning rally for the second-straight night. After the count reached 1-1, the freshman took to two big hacks at pitches from Texas A&M’s Payton McBride but couldn’t put metal on the softball to extend the game.

“I saw some at-bats at the end that didn’t look very good,” UF coach Tim Walton said. “Why? Because it’s a big moment. It’s something you can’t practice in your backyard.”

The No. 4 Florida dropped the second contest of the three-game Gainesville Super Regional with the Aggies (44-17) Friday night by a final score of 5-4. The series is now tied at 1-1 with the deciding match scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. It’ll determine which team goes to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series.  

UF pitcher Aleshia Ocasio gave up a season-high five runs and allowed a hit in each inning she worked. In the bottom of the first, she allowed her first run and hit simultaneously.

Ahead with a 1-2 count to sophomore right fielder Sarah Hudek, she left her next toss over the center of the plate. Hudek rocked the offering to put her team up 1-0.

In the second inning, a couple of bad defensive plays by senior third baseman Nicole DeWitt allowed the Aggies to plate another runner.

A leadoff double by senior catcher Ashley Walters was followed by a ground ball hit to DeWitt by TAMU third baseman Riley Sartain. DeWitt caught Walters in a rundown, but fired to second late, letting pinch runner Kylie George slide safely into the bag. On the next play DeWitt fielded a ground ball from shortstop Kristen Cuyos with double-play opportunity. She fired wide of her target, second baseman Hannah Adams, and the ball rolled into the outfield. George ran home and Texas A&M took a 2-0 lead.

But the defense stepped for the Gators (54-9). They got out of the third and fourth innings by turning two double plays. In the bottom of the fourth, senior first baseman Kayli Kvistad scooped a ball out of the dirt to complete the play and get her team out of the inning.

However, Florida responded in the top of the third.

With DeWitt and junior left fielder Amanda Lorenz on second and third, senior catcher Janell Wheaton scorched a one-hopper off the glove of Sartain and into left field to plate both runners to even the score at 2-2.

One inning later the Gators took a two-run lead of their own.

Freshman second baseman Hannah Adams and sophomore right fielder Jaimie Hoover kicked off the top of the fourth with back-to-back singles. They advanced on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore shortstop Sophia Reynoso. Then, DeWitt brought both runners home with a line-drive single into right field.

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But in the fifth Ocasio allowed two consecutive singles with two outs. The next Texas A&M batter, first baseman Tori Vidales, dug into the box and launched a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall. The three-run homer ended up as the game-winner. Florida left three runners on base in the final two innings as McBride shut the down the Florida offense in route to her third win of the season.

UF will start ace Kelly Barnhill on Saturday. Barnhill is 29-1 this season and allowed only two hits to the Aggies on Thursday.

“We’ve bounced back well. We’ve only lost one series all-year long,” Walton said. “Like I told our team, I’m excited to see how well we trained you, how hard we trained and what kind of emotions you can bring tomorrow.”

You can follow Mark Stine on Twitter @mstinejr or contact him at mstine@alligator.org.

UF starting pitcher Aleshia Ocasio gave up a season-high five runs against Texas A&M, who got a hit in every inning off the UF senior. 

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