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Following back-to-back 3-1 wins over No. 9 Kentucky, No. 6 Florida dropped the series finale 4-2 in nine innings Sunday.

Florida pitcher Elizabeth Hightower hurled five shutout innings barring a first-inning hiccup. After getting two quick outs, the junior right-hander surrendered a single and a two-run bomb to Kentucky cleanup hitter Erin Coffel.

The Wildcats carried a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh when Florida second baseman Hannah Adams led off with a solo shot and third baseman Charla Echols singled to put the tying run aboard. Freshman outfielder Katie Kistler pinch ran for Echols and scored on a wild pitch with two outs to force extra innings.

Kentucky loaded the bases in the eighth inning, but Florida right-hander Natalie Lugo escaped the jam. In the top of the ninth, the relentless Wildcats’ offense scored two runs thanks to a pair of errors by Florida’s infield.

In the bottom half of the frame, the Gators advanced a runner into scoring position but failed to score as Kentucky handed them their second loss this season.

Final (R-H-E)

No. 9 Kentucky: 4-8-0

No. 6 Florida: 2-5-2

Pitching Decision

Win: Humes (9-1)

Loss: Lugo (4-1)

Individual Stats

Hightower: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (0.90/0.63 season ERA/WHIP)

Lugo: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K (1.62/0.97)

Lindsey: 1-4, 1 2B (.393/.417/.607 season slash line)

Adams: 1-4, 1 RBI, 1 HR (3) (.448/.534/.690)

Echols: 1-4 (.411/.485/.804)

A. Goelz: 1-4 (.294/.345/.392)

Cottrill: 1-4 (.213/.302/.277)

Next Up

The Gators will take the diamond Tuesday night at home against Team USA. A trio of Gator alumnae — Michelle Moultrie, Aubree Munro and Kelsey Stewart — will make their return to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.