In the first inning between No. 2 Florida and South Carolina, Gators freshman shortstop Sophia Reynoso entered the batter’s box.
Lined up against senior right-handed pitcher Jessica Elliot, Reynoso was aggressive, carrying her fourth pitch over the middle into the grass and getting the first batter on base.
Three more hitters stepped into the box before Elliot could register the Gamecocks’ first out. By that time, the Gators were already up 2-0.
Florida used an explosive first inning that saw every Gator in the lineup face the South Carolina senior to propel it to a 13-1 victory of their conference rival.
By the time Reynoso flew out to left field for the final out of the inning, Florida (25-1, 4-0 SEC) had earned five runs on three hits, three walks, a wild pitch and a hit-by-pitch.
With the bases loaded early, junior first baseman Kayli Kvistad knocked a ball into center field that allowed a Reynoso and Nicole DeWitt the passage home.
Three at-bats later, senior outfielder Chelsea Herndon was walked with the based loaded, pushing out the first-inning lead to three.
Senior outfielder Justine McLean carried another hit into left field in the next face-off. Kvistad ran home, and a fielding error at left field gave speedster Aleshia Ocasio enough time to race to home plate.
And in just half an inning of work on offense, the Gators created a sizable five-run lead.
Defensively, the Gamecocks (19-9, 1-4 SEC) played the exact opposite, unable to find any offense until it was too late.
Before the fifth and final inning, Florida sophomore pitcher Kelly Barnhill made life tough for South Carolina by retiring 12 of 13 batters, six of them by strikeout.
Barnhill didn’t allow a hit until there were two outs in the bottom of the final inning, when a single from Gamecock senior Victoria Williams broke the hitting drought.
A double from junior outfielder Tiara Duffy concluded the success for South Carolina’s hitters, but it did give the team a run and ended Florida’s four game streak of shutting out opponents.
The Gator offense took command of the game and never looked back, scoring three or more runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings.
Florida had nine total hits, led by Reynoso and Kvistad, who both had two-hit nights. Kvistad launched a ball over the fence leading to two more runs set up by sophomore left fielder Amanda Lorenz’ triple.
DeWitt blasted a three-run shot over left-center field, crushing her second home run in as many days.
Overall, the Florida offense looked polished and versatile, a sight that the coaching staff likes to see in the thick of upper-tier conference league play.
Florida concludes its series with the Gamecocks Sunday at 1 p.m., hoping to sweep its second straight conference opponent to begin the season.
@SkylerLebron
UF shortstop Sophia Reynoso bats during Florida's 9-3 win over Northwestern State on Feb. 17, 2017, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
