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Florida junior third baseman Charla Echols took Georgia ace Mary Wilson Avant yard twice — she hit a two-run homer in the top of the first and led off the third inning with a solo shot — en route to an 8-1 series-clinching victory Monday night.

Avant, who one-hit the Gators Saturday, threw a season-high 151 pitches and allowed four earned runs on seven hits and eight free passes.

After hitting 1-22 (.045) against Avant Saturday, Florida improved improved its batting average to .241. Senior second baseman Hannah Adams led off the game with a bunt single before she poked a seventh-inning RBI single up the middle — marking her 14th mutli-hit game this season.

Gators southpaw Katie Chronister hurled four shutout innings barring Georgia third baseman Savana Sikes’ two-out solo shot in the bottom of the third. Senior right-hander Natalie Lugo entered the circle in the bottom of the fifth and allowed just one baserunner across the final three frames to earn her third save this season.

Final (R/H/E)

No. 5 Florida : 8 / 7 / 0

No. 20 Georgia : 1 / 5 / 2

Pitching Decision

Win: Chronister (6-1)

Loss: Avant (12-3)

Save: Lugo (3)

Individual Stats (season totals)

Chronister: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K ( ERA; WHIP)

Lugo: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (1.59 ERA; 0.99 WHIP)

1. 2B Adams: 2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI (.452 BA)
2. DP Lindaman: 1-5, 1 RBI (.319 BA)
3. 3B Echols: 2-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR (8), 2 BB, 1 SB (.391 BA)
4. C Cottrill: 0-2, 1 R, 2 BB (.276 BA)
5. RF Goddard: 0-1, 2 HBP (.161 BA)
6. LF Hoover: 1-3, 1 BB (.299 BA)
7. 1B A. Goelz: 0-4, 1 R, 1 RBI (.241 BA)
8. SS Longley: 1-3, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SB (.171 BA)
9. CF Lindsey: 0-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB (.372 BA)

Midweek Doubleheader

The Gators will return to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Wednesday for a doubleheader against USF. The teams met earlier this season in Tampa on opening day; Florida swept the doubleheader and outscored the Bulls 21-3.