In the top of the fifth inning, sophomore Kelly Barnhill zoomed a ball toward home plate.
Georgia’s Jordan Doggett fell for the pitch, swinging and missing for a strikeout.
The crowd at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium erupted into cheers. Barnhill had just struck out her fourth straight Bulldog and 10th in total.
The Marietta, Georgia, native pitched the entire game, striking out 14 and allowing a pair of hits.
“I was really feeling good tonight,” Barnhill said. “I was able to move my rise ball on all three plains, and when I’m able to do that, it’s always a good game.”
The dominance from Barnhill and the rest of the Gators defense allowed the team to remain in the lead for the entire game, as Florida completed its sweep of the Georgia Bulldogs on Monday night, 3-0.
“If you got the opportunity to sweep somebody, you got to take full advantage in this league,” coach Tim Walton said. “It’s a tough thing to do.”
With tough defense on both sides (Florida was only able to convert four hits) most of the action was seen in the third inning.
In the then-scoreless game, Georgia was the first to threaten when Florida catcher Janell Wheaton threw toward second base but failed to get the ball there in time. Georgia had stolen a base and had placed a runner in scoring position.
On the very next hit, however, a line drive to center field forced senior Justine McLean to make a long throw to home plate. This time, the ball reached Wheaton just in time to get the out.
The crowd went wild, and it was the only time Georgia posed a threat during the game.
“(McLean) showed off her arm and her athleticism and her accuracy,” Walton said. “It was one of the best throws she’s made since she’s been here.”
Florida then generated some offense of its own in the bottom of the inning. Junior Kayli Kvistad connected on a ball to right field for a two-run homer — her fifth of the season — to put the Gators on top. It was her first hit of the series.
“The pitchers really mixed the pitches well, so coming out here and getting that 2-0 up on Georgia was really exciting,” Kvistad said.
Chelsea Herndon tacked on one more run for Florida with a solo home run to right-center field in the sixth inning.
No. 3 Florida (37-2, 13-1 SEC) will look to maintain its toughness on defense when it faces in-state rival Florida State on Wednesday evening. The Seminoles, sitting at No. 1 in the nation, last played the Gators in 2016. It was Florida that clinched a 1-0 victory.
Wednesday’s game is set to start at 7 p.m.
“What I think we’re playing against Wednesday night and the atmosphere that’ll we’ll have here at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium will make it a fun week for sure,” Walton said.
“At least a fun Wednesday.”
Contact Cassie Amundson at camundson@alligator.org or follow her on Twitter @camundson_.
UF pitcher Kelly Barnhill throws a pitch during Florida's 5-0 win against Georgia on April 8, 2017, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
