SB: Gators Prevail Over Mississippi State in SEC Opening Weekend Series

No. 4 Florida beat Mississippi State 8-4 at home Saturday in the series opener before the Bulldogs rebounded Sunday with a 1-0 shutout victory over the Gators to force a Monday night rubber match. Florida right-hander Elizabeth Hightower started in the circle and threw a complete-game shutout en route to earning her sixth win this season and clinching the series.

The Gators improve to 23-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play — tied with No. 15 Georgia and No. 24 LSU for third place.

Game 1

Final (R/H/E)

MSU: 4 / 7 / 1

#4 UF: 8 / 14 / 2

Pitching Decision

Win: Delbrey (8-1)

Loss: Hawk (6-2)

Save: Mesiemore (1)

Individual Stats

Hightower: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

Delbrey: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Mesiemore: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

1. CF Falby: 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB, K
2. 2B Adams: 2-4
3. SS Wallace: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, SB
4. 3B Echols: 1-4, R, RBI
5. DP Walsh: 1-4, K
6. RF Lindsey: 3-4, 2 R, RBI
7. 1B A. Goelz: 2-4, R
8. C Roe: 1-1, R, RBI, 3B
9. LF Kistler: 1-3, R, RBI

Game 2

Final (R/H/E)

MSU: 1 / 5 / 0

#4 UF: 0 / 5 / 0

Pitching Decision

Win: Lugo (5-1)

Loss: Willis (2-2)

Individual Stats

Lugo: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Mesiemore: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

1. CF Falby: 0-2, 2 K
2. 2B Adams: 0-3, K
3. SS Wallace: 0-3, K
4. 3B Echols: 1-2, BB
5. DP Walsh: 0-3
6. RF Lindsey: 2-3, 3B, K
7. 1B A. Goelz: 0-2, 2 K
8. C Roe: 0-2, K
9. LF Kistler: 1-2, BB, 2 SB

Game 3

Final (R/H/E)

MSU: 0 / 4 / 1

#4 UF: 3 / 4 / 0

Pitching Decision

Win: Hightower (6-0)

Loss: Wesley (4-3)

Individual Stats

Hightower: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

1. CF Falby: 1-3, R, RBI, HR (3), K
2. 2B Adams: 1-1, R, 2 BB, SB
3. SS Wallace: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR (4)
4. 3B Echols: 0-3
5. DP Walsh: 0-3, K
6. RF Lindsey: 1-3
7. 1B A. Goelz: 0-2
8. C Wilkie: 0-2
9. LF Kistler: 0-2, K

Next Up

The Gators will head south to DeLand, Florida, to face Stetson Wednesday night at 6 ahead of this weekend’s road series against Texas A&M.