ChompTalk.com

Carrying a 6-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, Florida right-hander Elizabeth Hightower entered the circle in hopes of retiring three UCF batters and knocking off its in-state foe while earning her fourth save this season.

Instead, she hit the leadoff batter and allowed an RBI-double that tied the game before UCF catcher Karissa Ornelas belted an opposite-field, two-run, walk-off home run into the palm trees beyond the left-field wall.

After earning SEC Pitcher of the Week Honors Tuesday, Hightower picked up her first loss in Orlando Wednesday night as the No. 5 Gators fell to the No. 22 Knights 8-6.

UCF wasted no time making its mark on the scoreboard; its first two batters of the game walked and doubled off Florida right-hander Natlalie Lugo to give the Knights an early 1-0 advantage.

The Gators responded well in the top of the third inning by scoring five runs on three walks, a single and a pair of doubles courtesy of third baseman Charla Echols (4) and catcher Julia Cottrill (6). But Lugo allowed a leadoff single and back-to-back homers in the bottom half of the inning to cut Florida’s lead to 5-4.

With no outs and the bases empty, Gators southpaw Katie Chronister came in for relief but got off to a shaky start. The fifth-year Gainesville native gave up two singles and a walk before a sacrifice fly tied the game at five.

Scoreless fourth and fifth frames led to Florida breaking the tie in the top of the sixth. Cottrill stayed hot with a leadoff single up the middle — marking her third straight two-hit game — and the Gators loaded the bases for second baseman Hannah Adams who poked a sacrifice fly into foul territory in left field.

Hightower took over on the rubber in the bottom of the sixth and struck out two batters en route to a 12-pitch, one-two-three inning. Florida went three up, three down in the top of the seventh before UCF prevailed in walk-off fashion in the bottom half.

Final (R/H/E)

No. 5 Florida: 6 / 6 / 1

No. 22 UCF : 8 / 9 / 1

Pitching Decision

Win: Hightower (10-1)

Loss: White (11-1)

Individual Stats (season totals)

Lugo: 2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K (1.94 ERA; 1.02 WHIP)

Chronister: 3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (1.37 ERA; 0.75 WHIP)

Hightower: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (0.99 ERA; 0.67 WHIP)

Adams: 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB (.427 BA)

Lindaman: 0-2, 1 R, 2 BB (.328 BA)

Echols: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B (.408 BA)

A. Goelz: 0-3, 1 R, 1 BB (.266 BA)

Matthews: 0-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB (.250 BA)

Cottrill: 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 2B (.270 BA)

Hoover: 1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI (.298 BA)

K. Goelz: 0-2 (.222 BA)

Lindsey: 0-3 (.377 BA)

Weekend SEC Showdown

The Gators will return to Gainesville ahead of a three-game conference series against the No. 13 LSU Tigers. Friday’s contest at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium will start at 6 p.m.