In the bottom of the eighth inning with the game knotted at five apiece Florida needed one run to take home the victory. With two outs, junior pinch hitter Brooke Barnard walked to put one runner on base.
Then, junior center fielder Kendra Falby followed with a double down the right-field line to advance Brooke to third. The crowd rose to its feet, cheering as redshirt senior Skylar Wallace approached the plate.
With two strikes, Wallace swung but the ball slightly got away from LSU sophomore catcher Maci Bergeron. She attempted to make the throw to first, but it sailed over the first baseman's head.
Barnard came in from third, scoring the winning run as the Gators swarmed the field to celebrate a series win.
“We did not coach anybody and the officiating didn’t cause us to win or lose,” head coach Tim Walton said. “The players found a way to come back in the game and give us a chance to win.”
No. 10 Florida (34-6, 9-3 SEC) defeated the No. 5/7 Tigers (31-6, 9-6 SEC) 6-5 to clinch the series win at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Starting strong in the circle for the second time this series, freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock allowed one hit and retired the side 1-2-3 in the first inning.
The Gators capitalized on Rothrock's strong start and led off with back-to-back walks in the bottom of the first inning. Despite two outs, junior third baseman Reagan Walsh loaded the bases after getting hit by a pitch.
Senior right fielder Katie Kistler put the first run on the board on a bases loaded walk, but the Tigers managed to escape the inning.
The next three innings became a pitcher’s duel between Rothrock and LSU junior Raelin Chaffin, who each allowed just two hits.
Despite Rothrock’s success, the Tigers offense threatened and took the lead with a three-run frame in the top of the fifth.
LSU led off with a double down the left-field line. Then, a single up the middle scored the runner from second to even the score at 1-1.
With one out, LSU senior left fielder Ali Newland smashed a two-run home run over the center field wall to take the Tigers’ first lead of the game 3-1.
With two outs at the top of the sixth inning, the Tigers continued their offensive momentum and smashed a two-run double to the left-center field wall, allowing them to extend their lead to 5-1
Trailing by four heading into the bottom half of the sixth, Florida’s offense responded immediately with four runs on two hits to tie the game at 5-5. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for Florida. Sophomore catcher Jocelyn Erickson scored the first run of the inning from third base on a fielder’s choice.
With two outs and the bases loaded, LSU’s sophomore pitcher Sydney Berzon came face-to-face with the top of the lineup. Falby stepped up to the plate and smashed the game-tying three-run triple to the left-center field wall.
Falby banged her arms on third base, shouting with excitement as the fans stood up clapping, filling the stands with loud cheering.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do that if my teammates didn't grind out at-bats before that and put the pressure on the defense to allow for bases loaded,” she said. “It was pure excitement and emotions.”
Walton said Falby had a monster day for a leadoff batter and she did a great job when it mattered the most.
In the top of the 7th, freshman right-handed pitcher Ava Brown subbed in for Rothrock. Despite two runners on base, Brown kept her calm and delivered a changeup to strike out the batter. She took off her mask and shouted as she left the runners stranded.
“I know we always have a chance with her because she’s a fighter and a competitor,” Erickson said. “I know I can trust her and she can trust me.”
LSU’s error in extras allowed the Gators to remain undefeated in SEC series play.
Next, Florida will face the South Florida Bulls in a midweek matchup at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Contact Hailey Hurst at hhurst@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @haileyjhurst.
Hailey Hurst is a second-year journalism major with a focus in sports media and a sports reporter for The Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach and cheering for Miami sports teams.
