Gators freshman Olivia Gigante knocked her first career hit over the fence for a grand slam. Gigante’s home run capped off a 10-run fifth inning for Florida en route to a dominant win against Illinois State.
Florida strung out on defense to keep Illinois State scoreless for the entire game. UF’s offense fueled its undefeated start in its first tournament of the season.
The No. 4 Florida Gators (3-0) defeated the Illinois State Redbirds (1-3) 21-0 Saturday afternoon in the USF-Rawlings Invitational. UF now holds a 16-2 advantage against the Redbirds in the overall record book.
Senior Rylee Trlicek stepped in for graduate student Elizabeth Hightower, who pitched against Boston College in the first game of the doubleheader Saturday.
Sophomore Kendra Falby and redshirt junior Baylee Goddard drew walks to start the game. Graduate student Charla Echols hit a single through the right side for the first hit of the game to load the bases.
Florida sophomore Reagan Walsh emptied the bases with a grand slam to left center for four runs batted in. The home run upped the score to 4-0 at the top of the first inning.
Redbirds senior Amanda Fox came in to pitch. Falby was up to bat first after the pitching change and singled up the middle, which scored Longley and junior Avery Goelz.
Goddard singled to center field, and junior Katie Kistler scored. Florida ended the first inning with seven runs.
Trlicek and the Gators' defense held the Redbirds scoreless in the bottom of the first inning. UF loaded the bases but couldn’t score at the top of the second inning.
Illinois State junior Jayden Standish singled to left field to end the Redbirds’ hitless start. Her team had a pair of hits, but great defense by Echols and the Gators ended the inning without giving up a run.
Redshirt junior Skylar Wallace grounded out to second base at the top of the third. However, Goddard — who singled earlier in the inning — advanced to third on a wild pitch by Fox.
Walsh hit her second home run of the game deep to left field to bring two runners home. UF extended its lead to 9-0 at the top of the third.
Illinois State fifth-year Emme Olson singled up the middle, and senior Kaili Cheval got away from Walsh to advance to third. Sophomore Abby Knight then reached on a fielder's choice, where Olson retired for the final out at the bottom of the third inning.
Goelz singled through the right side to start the fourth inning for Florida. Freshman Kaila Pollard doubled to center field for her first career hit and racked up two RBI. The Redbirds were left scoreless once again at the bottom of the fourth.
Redshirt sophomore Christina Wellen pinch-ran for Echols and scored on a wild pitch to push the Gators’ lead to 12-0. Goelz advanced to third, and sophomore Sam Roe scored on a passed ball. Graduate student Kinsey Goelz hit a sacrifice fly out to the infield, where Avery Goelz scored to up the score to 14-0.
Wallace singled through the right side, which allowed Pollard to score. Wellen ripped a two-RBI single up the middle leaving the score at 17-0.
Gigante hit a grand slam to right field to mark her first career home run as a Gator. Gigante stayed in the game to pitch and did not allow a hit in the final inning.
The Gators will play their last game of the USF-Rawlings Invitational Sunday against South Florida at 1 p.m. in Tampa.
Contact Alyssa Britton-Harr abritton-harr@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter abrittonharr.
Alyssa Britton-Harr is a second-year journalism major and a sports reporter for The Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spending time with her friends.
