The Gators’ second game on Friday went longer than most baseball games.
Despite starting every extra inning with a runner in scoring position, it took 12 frames for Florida and Missouri to decide a winner.
After more than three hours of play, the No. 7 Tigers (6-0) came out of the 12-inning pitchers’ duel with a 4-3 victory.
No. 5 Florida (15-1) began the game with sophomore Lauren Haeger in the circle. She was spotty in her four innings, striking out three while giving up four hits and two runs, one of which was earned.
Junior Hannah Rogers came in with the game tied at two after an Ensley Gammel single drove in two runs on a single. Rogers pitched 7.2 innings in relief of Haeger, giving up four hits and striking out nine, but the junior would ultimately pick up the loss.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, both teams started their half of the inning with a runner on second base. It took four innings for either side to score its runner.
In the 11th, Florida broke through, scoring a run on a fielding error by Missouri shortstop Corrin Genovese. But the Tigers came right back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a run and sending the game to the 12th.
In the bottom half of the 12th inning, catcher Aubree Munro caught the placed runner stealing on an attempted squeeze play, and it looked like the Gators would safely get the game to the 13th inning.
However, Missouri junior Mackenzie Sykes doubled to right center field. After an intentional walk, shortstop Katie Medina misplayed a ball, loading the bases. Third baseman Nicole Hudson singled to left-center field, ending the game.
Tigers starter Chelsea Thomas picked up the win after pitching all 12 innings and striking out 19 Gators.
But the day was not a total loss for Florida.
Its first game of the day, against Syracuse (3-2) ended in a 5-1 victory for the Gators.
Sophomore Alyssa Bache pitched a complete game and did not give up a run until the final inning. Although she walked four, she tied her career-high with nine strikeouts.
The Gators play their final game at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. against Georgia Tech.
Coach Tim Walton signals to a base runner during Florida’s 3-1 victory against Auburn on April 14, 2012 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Walton has started freshman Taylor Schwarz at first base in every Southeastern Conference game.
