Tampa, FL – The Gators wrapped up the 2020 USF-Rawlings Invitational with two wins to improve to 4-1 for the season. Florida needed just 5 innings to beat Georgia State in the first of Sunday’s double-header. Freshman pitcher, Rylee Trlicek, threw her first no-hitter as a Gator. Trlicek faced 16 batters in total, striking out 6 and walking just 1. Trlicek’s complete game took some pressure off the pitching staff and allowed them to be well-rested entering game two. Natalie Lugo got the start, throwing 5.2 strong innings and leading the Gators to a 6-1 victory over the host team, USF.
Game 1
Final: Florida 10, Georgia State 0 (5)
Win: Rylee Trlicek (1-1)
Loss: Emily Buck (0-2)
Game Summary
As Rylee Trlicek cruised through Georgia State’s lineup, Florida’s offense failed to get much going, outside of a manufactured run in the third, until a fourth inning explosion.
Jordan Roberts led off the inning with a solo home run to left field. A few batters later, Jade Caraway hit a 2-run home run to give the Gators a 3-0 lead. With 2 outs in the inning, Hannah Adams’ double drove in Sophia Reynoso to extend Florida’s lead to 5-0.
Roberts went yard again in the fifth inning, this time going to the opposite field and scoring two runs. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Baylee Goddard put the nail in the coffin for Georgia State as she hit a 3-run home run to give the Gators a commanding 10-0 lead.
Trlicek tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the fifth to complete her no-hitter, and Florida won by virtue of the 8-run rule.
Notable Stats:
- Rylee Trlicek becomes the fourth freshman in UF history to throw a no-hitter
- Jordan Roberts hit her first two home runs of the season (3 RBIs)
- Hannah Adams hit 3-3 with 1 RBI and a stolen base
- Freshman Baylee Goddard hit her first collegiate home run as a pinch hitter (3 RBIs)
- Freshman catcher Julia Cottrill recorded her first collegiate hit
Game 2
Final: Florida 6, USF 1
Win: Natalie Lugo (2-1)
Loss: Camryn Dolby (0-1)
Save: Rylee Trlicek (1)
Game Summary
Florida’s offense carried its momentum into the second game of its double-header. Jordan Matthews’ RBI-single in the top of the first drove Hannah Adams in for the first run of the game.
In the second inning, Jade Caraway drove in her third run of the day on a single through the left side. With 2 outs and the bases loaded, Charla Echols launched one to the warning track in center field, but USF managed to haul it in and work its way out of the jam.
After a shaky start from USF starting pitcher, Camryn Dolby, Georgina Corrick came in for relief. Corrick settled in nicely until the fifth inning when Jordan Roberts went deep again to complete the hat trick for the day. Roberts’ homer gave Florida a 4-0 lead.
Florida starting pitcher, Natalie Lugo, was dealing a no-hitter until Madison Epperson broke it up with a 2-out solo home run. Lugo, nevertheless, picked up the win to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Sophomore transfer from Michigan State, Charla Echols, hit her second home run of the season in the seventh inning to give the Gators some breathing room and extend the lead to 6-1.
In the bottom half of the seventh inning, Rylee Trlicek delivered once again in the circle to finish off the USF Bulls. Trlicek forced a line-out and sent two batters down on strikes to complete a solid first weekend of Florida Gator softball.
Notable Stats:
- Florida improves to 33-1 all-time in tournaments hosted at USF
- Each of Florida’s 9 starters reached base safely, combining for 8 hits and 2 walks
- Jordan Roberts hit her third home run of the day
- Charla Echols hit .467 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs in her first weekend as a Gator
- USF shortstop Kyndall Williams made 3 errors
Looking Ahead
The Gators will return to Gainesville for its home opener on Tuesday night versus Team USA. Florida will then face UNF (2-2) on Wednesday night.