SB: Gators Drop Home Series to Lady Vols

The Gators fell to the Lady Volunteers at home Friday and Saturday before they bounced back with a 4-1 series-finale victory Sunday.

Tennessee’s pitchers held Florida scoreless through the first 13 innings until sophomore catcher Emily Wilkie hit a two-run homer — her first this season — with two outs in the bottom of the seventh Saturday to break the shutout.

On Sunday, Florida right-handers Elizabeth Hightower and Natalie Lugo threw a combined two-hitter as Hightower recorded the first 13 outs and allowed Tennessee’s lone run via a solo shot. Redshirt junior shortstop Skylar Wallace scored three of Florida’s four runs while going 2-2 at the dish with a double, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and three stolen bases.

In the field, the Gators maintained a clean slate and made no errors for the first series this year. Following the weekend, Florida drops to 27-5 overall and 5-4 in conference play — eighth in the SEC.

Game 1

Final (R/H/E)

#15 Tennessee: 6 / 11 / 1

#6 Florida: 0 / 6 / 0

Pitching Decision

Win: Edmoundson (14-2)

Loss: Hightower (8-1)

Individual Stats

RHP Hightower: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

RHP Mesiemore: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

LHP Pittman: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

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

Game 2

Final (R/H/E)

#15 Tennessee: 7 / 5 / 0

#6 Florida: 2 / 3 / 0

Pitching Decision

Win: McCachren (4-2)

Loss: Delbrey (9-2)

Individual Stats

RHP Delbrey: 5 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

RHP Mesiemore: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

LHP Pittman: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

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

Game 3

Final (R/H/E)

#15 Tennessee: 1 / 2 / 0

#6 Florida: 4 / 9 / 0

Pitching Decision

Win: Lugo (6-2)

Loss: Edmoundson (13-3)

Individual Stats

RHP Hightower: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 5 K

RHP Lugo: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

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

Next Up

After knocking off UCF on Feb. 27 in Orlando, The Gators will meet the Knights in a rematch Wednesday in Gainesville. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.