Tennessee starting pitcher Matty Moss was pulled in the bottom of the first inning on Friday night, allowing two early runs and scoring three in the frame to take as Florida took an early lead over the Volunteers.
That was all the run support Aleshia Ocasio needed.
No. 1 Florida (28-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) defeated No. 16 Tennessee (21-6, 3-1 SEC) by a score of 5-0 in its SEC home opener behind Ocasio’s complete game.
The sophomore gave up only a pair of hits and improved to 10-1 on the season.
“Having that cushion, having that insurance behind me, makes it a little bit easier to pitch,” Ocasio said.
After going ahead 3-0, Florida extended its lead in the third.
Taylore Fuller was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, and sophomore second baseman Nicole DeWitt walked on four pitches.
Justine McLean then hit an infield single to second base, loading the bases and extending her career-best hitting streak to eight games. A single to center field by senior catcher Aubree Munro preceded an RBI-walk to Kirsti Merritt later in the inning that put the Gators up five.
Sophomore Kayli Kvistad’s career-long hitting streak ended at eight games, as she went 0-for-2 at the plate with one walk.
It’s the first time the Gators have shut out the Volunteers since March 11, 2012, and the first time at home since May 7, 2011.
“I thought Aleshia Ocasio came out and did a really good job, set the tone for us early,” UF coach Tim Walton said. “She had really good stuff tonight.”
Game 2 of the series continues tomorrow at noon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Contact Brian Lee at blee@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @brianlee_17.
Aleshia Ocasio pitches in the first game of Florida's doubleheader against Jacksonville on Feb. 17, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
