After a disappointing start in conference play, the Gators were allotted the opportunity to gain some confidence against an inferior opponent.
Florida softball faced the Mercer Bears for a two-game set in Gainesville. The Bears were little competition for Florida, as the Gators blasted the team from Macon, GA thanks to an exhibition of power that they displayed.
SATURDAY:
FLORIDA 10, MERCER 2
| RUNS | HITS | ERRORS | |
| MERCER | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| GATORS | 10 | 10 | 1 |
Gainesville, FL – The Gators improved to 26-6 thanks to an offensive barrage led by catcher Kendyl Lindaman.
Jordan Roberts actually got the scoring started with a solo homer in the bottom of the second. Jaimie Hoover scored Sophia Reynoso with an RBI-triple later in the frame and came around to score on Cheyenne Lindsey’s groundout.
In the third inning, Lindaman crushed a three-run homer to left that scored both Hannah Adams and Amanda Lorenz. Hoover added another RBI in the inning on a single up the middle that made it a 7-0 game.
Florida added three more in the fourth on (of course) another three run bomb by Lindaman. The 10-0 lead put Mercer at risk of the run-rule.
With the game out of reach, head coach Tim Walton was able to empty the bench and the bullpen. Kelly Barnhill started the game, but only faced the Bears lineup one time through. Barnhill recorded seven stikeouts in three innings of work and didn’t allow a baserunner. Natalie Lugo relieved her for one inning and struck out the side before freshman Danni Farley took the circle in the fifth. Farley didn’t last long. She allowed two hits and two runs (in addition to a walk) in 0.1 innings of work. Katie Chronister came in and ended the game with a pair of groundballs on only three pitches.
Fast Stats:
- Kendyl Lindaman finished 2-3 with 2 HR and 6 RBI
- Jaimie Hoover, starting at third base for the first time in 2019, went 2-3 with 2 RBI and a run scored.
- Jade Caraway went 1-3 in the leadoff spot, reaching on an infield single.
- Amanda Lorenz finished 1-1 but walk twice and scored two runs.
W: Barnhill (17-3)
L: Bailey Pattison (7-8)
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SUNDAY:
FLORIDA 9, MERCER 3
| RUNS | HITS | ERRORS | |
| MERCER | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| GATORS | 9 | 9 | 0 |
Gainesville, FL- The Gators completed a two game sweep of Mercer behind four homers, a common theme for the entire weekend. Elizabeth Hightower pitched three innings before being relieved by Natalie Lugo who earned the win.
The Gators offense got started early on Sunday with three runs in the first inning highlighted by Kendyl Lindaman’s two-run homer. For Lindaman it was her seventh homer in the last seven games.
The Gators added a run in the third inning on Danielle Romanello’s fourth homer of the season that stretched the lead to 4-0.
Mercer got on the scoreboard in the fourth after a fielder’s choice ground out led to two runs being scored. It looked like Florida was going to get out of the inning unscathed with a double-play, but the ball was mishandled and two runs crossed the plate.
Jordan Roberts extended the lead to 7-2 on Jordan Roberts’ blast that went over the scoreboard in left center.
Mercer got another one back in the fifth, but the Gators pounced once again in the sixth. Hannah Adams started the inning with a triple down the first base line and Amanda Lorenz scored her on a sac fly to left. Then Lindaman struck again. Lindaman connected with a high solo blast that landed just past the left field fence and the Gators owned a 9-3 lead.
Fast Stats:
- Elizabeth Hightower’s final line: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K, 1 BB
- Natalie Lugo’s final line: 4 IP, 4 H, 3 R (2 ER), 8 K, 2 BB
- Kendyl Lindaman finished 2-3 with 2 HR, 3 RBI and a walk
- Hannah Adams went 3-4 and finished a homer short of the cycle.
W: Lugo (7-3)
L: Lynne Gardner (6-7)
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Florida moves to 27-6 overall and will face Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday. Florida will then re-enter league play with a three game set at Ole Miss.