The Florida Gators are still alive in the Blacksburg Super-Regional. After falling to #3 Virginia Tech in the opener Saturday morning (delayed due to rain), the Gators utilized their team speed to force a decisive Game 3 with a 7-2 win Saturday.
Both teams elected to start freshmen in the circle as the Gators went with Lexie Delbrey. While Delbrey wasn’t her best version, she did walk seven in 4.1 innings, she did enough to escape jams and give her team a chance to win.
Both teams had opportunities early. Each team had multiple runners on base in the first and combined for three runners in the second before the Gators came through in the third.
Florida grabbed an early 1-0 lead thanks to the speed of Kenra Falby. The speedster reached first on an bunt single before getting to third on Hannah Adams’ double to center. She then scored on an error at second base that allowed Charla Echols to reach.
Delbrey struggled with command all afternoon and walked four of the first five hitters she faced in the fourth, allowing the Hokies to tie the ballgame.
In the fifth, Virginia Tech led off with a double and that was followed with another double to put the Hokies on top.
The Gators, though, put up four runs in response as they faced elimination. Adams led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and Wallace and Echols followed with back to back doubles to give Florida the lead again.
A fielder’s choice and a perfect squeeze play executed by Sam Roe increased the lead for the Gators.
Florida tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth before Natalie Lugo retired the Hokies in the seventh to continue the Gators’ season.
Key Performances:
- Wallace: 2-3, 2 2B, RBI, 2 R, BB
- Adams: 2-3, 2B, R
- Walsh: 2-3, RBI
- Falby: 2-4, 2 R
- Lugo: 2.2 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Pitching Decision:
- W: Lexie Delbrey (16-3)
- L: Emma Lemley (16-6)
On Deck:
Florida and Virginia Tech will complete the series with Sunday’s third game. As of publishing, the NCAA hasn’t announced a time.