Coach Tim Walton revamped his lineup before Friday’s game against Ole Miss, and it did not take long for the changes to pay off.
No. 3 Florida (33-3, 8-2 Southeastern Conference) jumped out to an early lead against Ole Miss (19-19, 1-9 SEC) and it never relinquished, winning 4-1 in Oxford, Miss.
Third baseman Stephanie Tofft moved to second in the batting lineup, and she drove in the game’s first run in the first inning. Shortstop Kelsey Stewart singled and stole second base, and Tofft drove her in with a double.
The Gators recorded two more runs in the second inning when second baseman Jessica Damico lined a home run to left field.
But after Damico’s homer, Rebels pitcher Carly Hummel settled in. After the home run, she only gave up two hits in the next four innings.
But Gators pitcher Hannah Rogers matched Hummel. The junior right-hander only surrendered two hits and struck out five in a complete-game victory.
Ole Miss tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth but had the opportunity to score more. The Rebels put runners on second and third with only one out but could only drive in one on a sacrifice fly. Rogers buckled down and picked up a strikeout to end the inning.
The Gators got the run right back in the top of the seventh. Tofft drove in Taylore Fuller on a single to left-center field.
Rogers set down the side in order in the seventh to end the game.
Florida and Ole Miss play the second game of the three-game series Saturday at 3.
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
Junior starter Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 9-1 victory against UNC Wilmington on Feb. 17 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers gave up five runs to Mississippi State in the second inning on Sunday.
