Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Lorenz proves SEC honors with game-winning homer in SEC tournament

Amanda Lorenz

Amanda Lorenz scorched another home run on Thursday against Alabama.

Crack!

It was evident from the deep, echoing sound made off the barrel of junior Amanda Lorenz’s bat that the softball was destined to leave the Mizzou Softball Stadium.
The SEC Player of the Year rounded the bases after she unleashed an 0-1 pitch over the wall in dead center to give Florida its first lead of the ball game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Lorenz entered Thursday night hitting .593 with 11 RBIs in her last 10 games, and her three-run blast helped No. 4 Florida defeat No. 13 Alabama (33-18, 12-12 SEC) in the second round of the SEC Tournament, 5-2 in Columbia, Missouri.  

However, the Gators (48-8, 21-4 SEC) found themselves in a hole early. Ace Kelly Barnhill gave up two runs in the top of the first, only the second time she’s allowed an opponent to score in the opening frame all season. The junior pitcher allowed the first two Crimson Tide batters to reach base, both of which came around to score and put Alabama up 2-0.
UF came right back, threatening pitcher Courtney Gettins with multiple base runners and only one out in each of the opening two innings.
In the first, senior first baseman Kayli Kvistad stepped to the plate with teammates Hannah Adams and Nicole DeWitt on first and second. The senior struck out swinging as Adams attempted to steal third base, but Alabama catcher Reagan Dykes gunned down the freshman to end the inning.
In the second, Florida had the bases loaded with designated player Jordan Roberts in the batter’s box. Roberts knocked a hard-hit ground ball to shortstop Sydney Booker, who fired home to get the lead runner out. Dykes relayed the ball to first, getting Roberts in time for another inning-ending double play.
However, senior Aleshia Ocasio evened the score with one swing in the fourth. After catcher Janell Wheaton reached on a leadoff walk, Ocasio leveled a Gettins offering over the right field wall.
Ocasio came in to pitch in the sixth inning after Barnhill allowed a leadoff walk of her own.
The senior quieted the Crimson Tide bats, allowing only one runner in the final two innings. Her effort set the table for the Florida offense in the bottom of the sixth, which was highlighted by the Lorenz home run.
“To have our pitchers backs on the highest stage, it means a lot,” Lorenz said in a television interview. “It’s nice to have their backs for once because they always have ours.”
The Gators advance to the semifinal of the SEC Tournament, where they’ll take on No. 7 Tennessee.
“We just need to focus on ourselves and have fun doing it,” Lorenz said. “That’s when we do well. That’s when we win.”

You can follow Mark Stine on Twitter @mstinejr or contact him at mstine@alligator.org.

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.