As a pinch hitter with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, UF sophomore Jordan Roberts stepped into the batter’s box with one mission: get a hit and extend the inning.
She produced much more.
With a runner on first, Roberts measured up a 2-1 pitch from Missouri’s Lauren Rice and crushed it over the right-field fence at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.
The sophomore’s fourth home run of the year padded what was a one-run lead and helped No. 4 Florida claim its final regular-season series with a 5-0 victory in Columbia, Missouri.
Despite being shut out, the Tigers (28-26, 6-15 SEC) out-hit the Gators five to four. However, UF was led by the complete-game performance of pitcher Aleshia Ocasio.
The senior picked up her 17th win of the season in a 10-strikeout performance where she allowed five hits and only one walk. She also had to work her way out of two jams with runners in scoring position.
With a scoreless game in the bottom of the third, Missouri leadoff batter Callie Martin pulled a double down the right-field line and advanced to third on a throwing error by sophomore Jaimie Hoover. But Ocasio struck out the next three hitters to end the inning.
Then in the fifth, she gave up a pair of singles and walked the Tigers’ Rylee Pierce to load the bases with only one out. Ocasio struck out the next batter, but needed the aid of her defense to get out of the inning.
Missouri's Amanda Sanchez chopped a ground ball destined for center field, but shortstop Sophia Reynoso snagged the hopper, moved to her right and fired off-balance but accurately to first with plenty of time to spare.
The Gators (46-8, 19-4 SEC) finally gave Ocasio run support in the top of the fourth.
Catcher Janell Wheaton advanced to first and loaded the bases after Rice appeared to hit her in the arm. On second viewing, the ball clearly struck the barrel of the senior’s bat, but the umpires ruled in Wheaton’s favor. She took her base and moved pinch runner Katie Chronister and third baseman Nicole DeWitt to second and third, respectively. Hoover hit a sacrifice fly to deep right-center field and scored DeWitt for the day’s first run.
Roberts’ bomb in the sixth pushed the lead to 3-0, but UF iced the contest in the top of the seventh.
A solo home run by left fielder Amanda Lorenz and another RBI by Hoover put the game out of reach at 5-0 as the Gators picked up their third-straight win.
You can follow Mark Stine on Twitter @mstinejr or contact him at mstine@alligator.org.
Senior Aleshia Ocasio struck out 10 Missouri batters in a complete game shutout of the Tigers at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.
