Building off strong start
The Gators scheduled three games this past weekend, but Sunday’s game against the USF Bulls was postponed due to inclement weather.
In Saturday’s doubleheader, Florida showed why they entered the season as the No. 6 team in the country.
Despite a shaky start in the season-opening game, Florida’s bats came alive in the top of the seventh inning to open up a 6-3 lead. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Gators showed no doubts. Dominant pitching from junior Elizabeth Hightower and success up and down the lineup in the box put the game to bed early. In the end, the Gators walked out 15-0 winners.
Close Season Opener
Tim Walton’s Gators entered the game as the number six team in the nation. This Gator team has a wealth of talent across the board, but that depth struggled in the season opener.
Members of the Florida Gators Softball team make their way around the field prior to their season opener against USF. PHOTO CREDIT: @GatorsSB on Twitter
While everything was going smooth in the first inning, the hot bats quickly cooled.
Jordan Matthews opened the scoring with a two-run double, and the Gators pushed it to a three-run lead through a Baylee Goddard single.
The difference was USF starting pitcher Georgina Corrick. Arguably South Florida’s most dynamic player, Corrick came into the game on USA Softball’s watchlist for 2021 Collegiate Player of the Year. After the tough first inning, Corrick locked in and held the Gators scoreless.
Late rally, blowout gives Gators 2-0 start
It was Florida’s first game in nearly a year Softball Photo by Samantha Harrison | The Independent Florida Alligator
There’s a superstition that rain on a wedding day means good luck, and the Gators softball team hopes a rainy season opener carries the same prosperity.
After waiting nearly a year to return to the diamond, UF’s home opener against USF in Tampa was delayed for three hours due to inclement weather. But when it finally started, the Gators didn’t miss a beat.
They took game one of the doubleheader 6-3 and then rampaged the Bulls in game two a 15-0 demolition to start the 2021 campaign 2-0.
Echols finally broke the 3-3 tie in the top of the 7
th inning with her two-RBI double off the outstretched glove of the Bulls center fielder. Cottrill tacked on the final run with her RBI single to close out the scoring 6-3.
Chronister (1-0) earned the win the circle as she pitched 3.1 innings and didn’t relinquish a single hit.
Game Two | Gators 15, USF 0
The second game of the afternoon started out much like the first, but instead of free bases in the form of walks or hit batters, the Gators produced back-to-back doubles from Adams and Lindaman which was then followed by a two-RBI triple from Echols to give UF an early 2-0 lead.