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Thursday, March 28, 2024
<p>Nicole DeWitt bats during UF's 2-1 win against UNF on April 1, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.</p>

Nicole DeWitt bats during UF's 2-1 win against UNF on April 1, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

UF third baseman Nicole DeWitt embraced teammates Kayli Kvistad and Amanda Lorenz at home plate. She just launched a two-run home run into the stratosphere above the Mizzou Softball Stadium, sparking a three-run opening inning for the No. 4 Gators.

Their opponent, Tennessee (45-12, 14-11 SEC), never recovered.

Florida (49-8, 21-4 SEC) eliminated the No. 7 Volunteers in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament by a final score of 10-2 Friday night.

DeWitt’s first-inning blast off UT’s Matty Moss factored into a pitching change after just one-third of a frame. And she wasn’t finished.

The senior came right back in the second inning, this time with a three run dinger given up by Caylan Arnold, pushing UF’s lead to six runs. The pair jacks were DeWitt’s 12th and 13th of the season, as she registered her first-career multi-home run game.

Fellow senior Janell Wheaton followed her and made it 7-0. The catcher drove a 3-2 delivery from Arnold to deep center field, scoring pinch runner Alex Voss from second. Wheaton also pumped an RBI single back up the middle off Arnold in the first inning.

Moss re-entered the contest after Tennessee scored two runs in the top of the third. She faced Wheaton for the first time in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and an out. The senior catcher knocked the ball right back at Moss. It deflected off the pitcher’s glove and fell to second baseman Aubrey Leach, who picked up the assist on a throw to first, but not before Wheaton registered her third RBI of the night to push UF’s lead back to six runs.

Despite the performance of DeWitt and Wheaton, the real success for the Gators came by drawing walks. Nine batters took first base on balls and turned the free passes into five runs.

The Volunteers also committed two critical errors, one in the second inning and one in the fourth, both of which led to runs by Lorenz.

Meanwhile, UF's Kelly Barnhill pitched well with plenty of insurance. The SEC Pitcher of the Year picked up her 26th victory along with nine strikeouts on just five hits and two earned runs.

After Barnhill had a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, Florida closed out the game in the home-half of the frame.

With one out, second baseman Hannah Adams skied an RBI double into centerfield, scoring right fielder Jaimie Hoover from first and making it 9-2.

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Then with two outs and the bases loaded, freshman Jordan Matthews grounded a hit into center field that scored Adams and secured the Gators’ win with an eight-run mercy rule.

UF advances to the SEC Tournament final, where it’ll take on No. 12 South Carolina. The Gamecocks will look for their third SEC Tournament championship, while Florida will attempt to take the title for the fourth time.

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

Third baseman Nicole DeWitt recorded her first multi-home run game of her career as UF defeated Tennessee in the semifinals if the SEC Tournament. 

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