Kelly Barnhill stood in the pitcher’s circle, having given up a leadoff hit and a walk in the top of the second inning.
With no outs and runners on first and second, the freshman rifled a strike.
A low line drive flew off Kassidy Zeringue’s bat and straight into Barnhill’s glove.
The freshman turned and fired to second baseman Nicole DeWitt to double up the runner. DeWitt then threw it to first to complete a triple play — the third in school history.
"Biggest play of the series," coach Tim Walton said. "Completely changed the momentum.
"If you’d have told me that we’re gonna turn a triple play on one of the fastest players they have with our riseball pitcher, I would’ve said, ‘Yeah, right.’"
Timely pitching was a huge part of No. 1 Florida’s 3-0 win over No. 5 Louisiana-Lafayette Sunday. The Gators (41-3) swept the Ragin’ Cajuns (32-6) in the three-game weekend set and improved to 29-0 against non-conference opponents.
Barnhill was under pressure early. Despite three walks and a hit in the first two innings, though, the freshman kept ULL off the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, Florida's offense got going in a hurry.
With one out, DeWitt hit a pop-up into foul territory. ULL third baseman Kara Gremillion looked into the sun but couldn’t shield her eyes as the ball fell harmlessly to the ground.
She’d regret giving DeWitt another chance.
With a full count, the sophomore slapped a single through to right-center field. After a Janell Wheaton infield hit and a ground out put the runners on second and third, senior Aubree Munro stepped up.
Munro launched a line drive into left field. DeWitt crossed home easily and directed Janell Wheaton where to slide to get around the tag, giving Munro her 18th and 19th RBIs on the year.
"Hitting is usually contagious," Munro said. "When you’re feeling good, you hit better."
The catcher is riding a season-high six-game hitting streak.
"I feel really good," she said. "I’m seeing the ball well, confidence is coming back."
After an 11-pitch duel between UF’s Taylore Fuller and ULL pitcher Alex Stewart resulted in a pop out, UF ended the second with a 2-0 lead.
Barnhill got the third inning’s first two outs in a breeze. But a two-out double, a base hit and a walk followed.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Walton made a pitching change, bringing junior Delanie Gourley in for Barnhill.
Gourley sat down ULL’s DJ Sanders after three whiffs to preserve the Florida lead.
"I really like coming in in those situations, and I don’t know why, but I like them," Gourley said. "If you wanted me to do it every day, I would."
Florida extended its edge in the bottom of the third.
With one out, senior Kirsti Merritt bunted for a hit and an errant throw from the pitcher put her on second.
A strikeout and a walk later, DeWitt hit a hard grounder that bounced off the glove of the outstretched ULL second baseman, careening into shallow right. Merritt rounded third, crossed the plate and gave Florida a three-run lead.
Gourley (13-2) finished the game giving up no walks, two hits and striking out eight.
"As much as we try to not pay attention to rankings, when you have a team come in No. 5 to your ground, you want to win even more," Gourley said.
Florida will take the field again Wednesday at 6 p.m. when it faces USF at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Contact Matt Brannon at mbrannon@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @MattB_727
Delanie Gourley pitches during Florida's 14-10 loss to LSU on March 14, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
