The Gators softball team is spending the weekend in Arizona to compete in the Littlewood Classic. On Friday they defeated Illinois State and tournament host, Arizona State to improve to 8-0 on the season.
(GAME ONE):
FLORIDA 2, ILLINOIS STATE 1
| RUNS | HITS | ERRORS | |
| ILL ST | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| GATORS | 2 | 7 | 0 |
Tempe, AZ – Florida opened the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Arizona by defeating Illinois State 2-1. The Redbirds, who UF faced in the USF Opening Weekend Tournament last weekend, fought until the end and almost came away with a victory. Natalie Lugo improved to 3-0 on the season while Kelly Barnhill picked up her third save of the season.
Game Trends
Florida scored both runs in the bottom of the second. Jordan Roberts doubled to left field with one out while Jaimie Hoover reached on an error to put a pair of runners on. Alex Voss then singled through the hole between short and third to load the bases. Sophia Reynoso was hit by a pitch which scored Roberts for the first score of the game. Hannah Sipos then followed with a ground out to short, but it allowed Hoover to score.
The two run lead would prove to be enough as Lugo worked five perfect frames before allowing a leadoff walk and a double in the sixth inning. The Redbirds would score on that double as Shannon Felde plated Michele Calabreese.
Kelly Barnhill entered the circle for the seventh inning and promptly struck out the side in order to seal the win for Florida.
Fast Stats:
- Lugo once again made up for a quiet offensive game. Lugo threw 6 innings, allowing one hit and striking out six while walking only one.
- Barnhill recorded her third save of the season, which is also only the seventh of her career.
- 1B Amanda Lorenz went 2-2 with a walk
- Florida has struggled with runners in scoring position going all the way back to the season opening contest between the two teams, that didn’t change as the Gators were 1-11 (.091) against the Redbirds.
W: Lugo (3-0)
L: Ali Domkuski (0-1)
S: Barnhill (3)
(GAME TWO):
FLORIDA 7, ARIZONA STATE 2
| RUNS | HITS | ERRORS | |
| GATORS | 7 | 9 | 0 |
| ASU | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Tempe, AZ- Florida closed the opening day of the Littlewood Classic with a dominant effort against #14 Arizona State. Amanda Lorenz led the offensive effort with a pair of homers while Kelly Barnhill operated in the circle for the complete game. The Gators improved to 8-0 with the victory and the win also represented the third of the season for Florida against Top-25 teams.
Game Trends
Florida, playing as the visitors, got on the board right away as Amanda Lorenz cranked her first homer of the season to right-center to lead off the game.
The Sun Devils did rebound however, and tied the game up with a solo shot from their leadoff hitter, Kindra Hackbarth.
The Gators added another run in the second as Sophia Reynoso, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, scored on a Danielle Romanello single to right.
Arizona State would again tie the game up in the bottom of the third as the Sun Devils manufactured a run after a leadoff single. M. Howe doubled home Hackbarth to knot the game at two a side.
The tie didn’t last long, however, as Lorenz crushed a homer to left to open the fourth inning of play.
The Gators then added four insurance runs in the fifth frame to take control of the game. Hannah Adams homered to center for her second of the year, a few batters later, Lorenz walked with the bases loaded to score Alex Voss, Matthews followed Lorenz and was hit by a pitch to force Reynoso home. The Gators added one more run when Kendyl Lindaman was hit by a pitch that forced Hannah Sipos to score and pushed the Florida lead to 7-2.
That was all the support Barnhill needed as she threw three perfect innings to close out the victory.
Fast Stats:
- Amanda Lorenz went 2-3 with two homers, a walk, and 3 RBI
- Hannah Adams finished 2-3 with a homer and an RBI and added a walk as well.
- Senior Kelly Barnhill pitched a complete game and registered a season high 14 strikeouts despite the two earned runs.
W: Barnhill (5-0)
L: Abby Anderson (0-1)