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Following back-to-back Florida strikeouts in the bottom of the first, junior third baseman Charla Echols hit a solo shot to center — her fifth home run in the past five games — before catcher Julia Cottrill hit a two-run bomb to take an early 3-0 lead.

The Gators added two insurance runs in the sixth inning en route to a 5-2 victory Saturday over Western Kentucky before inclement weather abbreviated their afternoon exhibition versus Canada.

Florida right-hander Elizabeth Hightower started in the circle and hurled five shutout innings barring a pair of solo shots. The junior Monticello native struck out four Hilltoppers and improved to 14-2. Southpaw Katie Chronister took over in the top of the sixth and allowed only one baserunner before she earned her second save this season.

Following its first-inning outburst, Florida left six runners on base through the next four frames until right fielder Baylee Goddard scored on second baseman Hannah Adams’ sacrifice fly. With two outs, freshman Emily Wilkie pinch hit for center fielder Cheyenne Lindsey and ripped a RBI triple down the right-field line.

Canada held a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth before poor weather terminated the afternoon exhibition. Echols drove in both Florida runs on a first-inning RBI double and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third.

Chronister gave up two earned runs in 1 1/3 innings pitched until sophomore left-hander Rylee Trlicek surrendered three earned across 2 2/3 frames. Senior right-hander Natalie Lugo entered the circle in the top of the fifth and held Canada hitless.

Final (R/H/E)

Western Kentucky: 2 / 5 / 0

No. 5 Florida : 5 / 8 / 1

Pitching Decision

Win: Elizabeth Hightower (14-2)

Loss: Kelsey Aikey (4-6)

Save: Katie Chronister (2)

Individual Stats (season totals)

Hightower: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K (1.32 ERA; 0.74 WHIP)

Lugo: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K (1.41 ERA; 0.95 WHIP)

Chronister: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (1.93 ERA; 0.90 WHIP)

Adams: 1-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HBP (.442 BA)

Lindsey: 2-7, 2 R (.378 BA)

Echols: 2-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR (9), 3 BB (.383 BA)

Lindaman: 2-5, 1 R, 2 RBI, HR (5), 2 BB (.330 BA)

A. Goelz: 3-4, 1 R, 2 BB (.278 BA)

Wilkie: 1-1, 1 R, 2 RBI, HR (3), 2 BB (.279 BA)

Weekend Finale

The Gators will return to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Sunday for a rematch against Western Kentucky. The game is scheduled for 11 a.m. and will air on SEC Network+.