SB: Gators Cap Off Homestand With Shutout Win Over No. 16 Seminoles
Photo by Benjamin Fox / ChompTalk.com


Following a 6-2 win against New Mexico State Wednesday, the No. 5 Gators shutout in-state rival No. 16 Florida State 5-0 Friday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium to wrap up a 12-game homestand.

Florida right-hander Elizabeth Hightower faced only 25 batters en route to her third complete game and second shutout of the season. The junior Monticello, Florida native becomes just the fourth pitcher in the nation and to eclipse six wins this season as she improves to 7-0.

A pair of home runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings lifted Florida to 14-0 overall — its hottest start since 2016 when the Gators won their first 26 games.

After three scoreless frames, junior third baseman Charla Echols hit a solo shot — her team-leading third dinger — before designated hitter Kendyl Lindaman smacked a three-run bomb into the bullpen in left an inning later to open up a 4-0 Florida advantage.

Hightower hurled a no-hitter until the sixth frame when Seminole second baseman Devyn Flaherty poked a single through the left side of the infield. Florida State managed to get runners in scoring position, but Gator fifth-year senior Jamie Hoover made an impressive sliding catch in shallow left field to to escape the jam and salvage the shutout.

Following a trio of Florida walks in the bottom of the sixth, center fielder Cheyenne Lindsey extended the lead to six on a two-out RBI-single.

In the top of the seventh, Hightower took the circle one last time. After generating back-to-back flyouts to left field, she surrendered a walk before a groundout completed her complete-game gem.

Final (R-H-E)

No. 16 FSU: 0-1-0

No. 5 UF: 5-5-0

Pitching Decision

Win: Hightower (7-0)

Loss: Arnold (3-2)

Individual Stats

RHP Hightower: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (0.69/0.59 season ERA/WHIP)

DH Lindaman: 1-2, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR (2), 1 BB (.297/.458/.568 season slash line)

3B Echols: 1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 HR (3), 1 BB (.400/.490/.775)

CF Lindsey: 2-3, 1 R, 1 RBI (.474/.500/.711)

Rivalry Weekend

The in-state rivals will travel west to Tallahassee for a rematch Saturday night at 6.

Posted in ,

2 responses to “SB: Gators Cap Off Homestand With Shutout Win Over No. 16 Seminoles”

  1. SB: Seminoles Snap Gators’ 20-Game Winning Streak – ChompTalk.com Avatar

    […] In the latter matchup of a home-and-home series, the Seminoles sought revenge following Florida’s shutout victory at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Friday. […]

    Like

  2. SB: Weekly Wrap-Up – ChompTalk.com Avatar

    […] 3/5 vs No. 16 FSU — W, 5-0 […]

    Like

Leave a reply to SB: Weekly Wrap-Up – ChompTalk.com Cancel reply