The UF softball team carried its offensive struggles from SEC play into its midweek game against No. 20 Minnesota on Wednesday.
Kelly Barnhill looked over at pitcher Katie Chronister’s signal, looked down at her wristband on her left arm and exhaled.
The No. 6 Florida softball team (24-6) suffered its second-consecutive series loss to open SEC play after a 3-2 walk-off loss against No. 8 LSU (24-6) on Monday. Here are how the Gators have lost back-to-back series for the first time since 2011:
UF second baseman Hannah Adams stabbed at a ground ball with her glove hand, attempting to backhand the softball. She dropped it, picked it up and threw to first in attempt to beat the runner, Amber Serrett.
UF outfielder Jade Caraway tracked a high, fly ball to the left-field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning. She leaped up and stretched her glove over the wall to attempt a home-run rob.
Catcher Kendyl Lindaman dug into the batter’s box with the game on the line: top of the seventh, bases loaded, two outs and the Florida softball team trailing by a run.
The No. 7 Gators softball team started SEC play with a series loss to Tennessee, and they travel to No. 9 LSU for a series starting on Saturday.
Coach Tim Walton stressed that he needed more production from the bottom of the lineup after Florida’s series loss to Tennessee leading up to Wednesday night’s game against UCF.
The No. 7 Gators (22-4) are looking to rebound after a series loss to Tennessee at home to open SEC play. UCF is 5-1 in its last six games ahead of Wednesday’s game and sit at a 17-8 record ahead of its first road game of the season.
Tennessee center fielder Cailin Hannon sprinted backward and tracked the softball as it gradually descended into her path. She outstretched her glove to make the catch, then ☺— WHAM!
Natalie Lugo gazed toward the sky as the softball sailed over her head and past her back-tracking center fielder, Alex Voss.
One of the storylines for the UF softball team in its SEC opening-weekend series was if pitching or offense would prevail.
Kelly Barnhill stood in the circle then delivered the 3-2 pitch.
Three runs.
Kelly Barnhill charged toward home plate.
The No. 3 Gators have been waiting nearly nine months for this.
Outfielder Amanda Lorenz was frustrated a week ago. The Florida offense was struggling, and she wasn’t doing much better. Coach Tim Walton pulled her aside for a brief drill.
Alex Voss couldn’t help but smile as she rounded third. The senior center fielder and team captain beamed once she saw her teammates stationed around home plate to greet her after her home run. Once she touched home, she was swarmed.
Friday night saw the first two games of the six-game Bubly Invitational for Florida’s softball team. Florida swept the doubleheader with a 7-0 victory against Illinois State and a 4-0 win over Florida A&M. Here’s how it happened:
There’s no better way for a softball player to vault her team toward victory than hitting a home run in the first at-bat of the game.
Solutions by The State News
