Although No. 3 Florida (13-2) effortlessly pounded out 12 runs in its first game against Pacific (5-7), it was unable to get a runner past second base in its 2-0 defeat at the hands of No. 10 Stanford (13-2) in the nightcap.
Stanford pitcher Teagan Gerhart allowed only two hits and a walk in her complete-game shutout.
Gator ace Stephanie Brombacher did her best to match Gerhart’s efforts, but could only keep the Cardinals off the board until the bottom of the third when freshman Jenna Rich singled home the game’s first run.
Rich also added a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, after which Gerhart retired the final six Florida batters in order.
UF had a much easier time in its 12-3 win against Pacific in the DeMarini Invitational opener.
California native Ensley Gammel recorded her second-career win despite continued control issues, while the five other Californians in the UF lineup combined to go 6 for 11 with three home runs and seven RBI.
Freshman Brittany Schutte hit a two-run home run on the first pitch she saw in her home state, junior Megan Bush hit her fifth home run in 13 career games in California, and senior Francesca Enea increased her team lead in home runs to seven and RBIs to 24 with her third-inning grand slam.
The other two California natives in the lineup, Kelsey Bruder and Aja Paculba, also had solid outings.
Paculba got a single in her first at-bat and then walked on her other two plate appearances, while Bruder went 2 for 3.
