SB: Wallace Shines as Gators Suffer Series Sweep in Knoxville

After winning back-to-back SEC home series, No. 14 Florida got swept by No. 3 Tennessee Monday in Knoxville.

The Lady Vols run-ruled the Gators in Saturday’s series opener before they prevailed 11-10 Sunday night to clinch the series. Tennessee completed the series sweep Monday with a 10-6 victory.

Florida shortstop Skylar Wallace extended her hit streak to 11 games after the redshirt junior went 6-10 against Tennessee with six RBIs and a home run in all three games.

Wallace — who earned D1Softball National Player of the Week honors Tuesday — leads the SEC in nearly every offensive category. The Woodstock, Georgia, native leads the nation in on-base percentage (.623) and slugging percentage (1.098).

In Monday’s series finale, Gator third baseman Charla Echols and junior Emily Wilkie each recorded multi-hit games with a solo shot. Following her ninth home run this season, Echols leads Florida and ranks third in the SEC with 52 RBIs.

After hitting a walk-off, grand slam last week against USF, Wilkie went yard to the opposite field for her fifth homer this year.

In the circle, Florida right-hander Elizabeth Hightower and southpaw Rylee Trlicek struggled.

Hightower pitched in all three games but gave up nine earned runs across five innings en route to picking up a pair of losses. Trlicek started Sunday’s game and yielded seven earned runs in five innings before the senior Texas native allowed five earned runs in only 2 1/3 innings Monday to earn the loss.

Following the series sweep, Florida drops to 32-14 overall, 7-7 on the road, and 8-10 in conference play — eighth place in the SEC standings.

Game 1 Box Score (F/5)

Florida: 1 / 4 / 0

Tennessee: 9 / 5 / 2

Game 2 Box Score

Florida: 10 / 9 / 1

Tennessee: 11 / 9 / 4

Game 3 Box Score

Florida: 6 / 8 / 1

Tennessee: 10 / 13 / 1

Mid-Week Rivalry Game On Deck

The Gators will return to the Sunshine State to face another top-five ranked opponent — No. 4 Florida State — Wednesday in Tallahassee. The Seminoles boast a 26-2 home record this season and will enter the matchup on a five-game winning streak. Florida leads the all-time series, but FSU prevailed in both meetings with its rival last year. Wednesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will air on the ACC Network.

This weekend, Florida will return to Gainesville to welcome Ole Miss for its final home series of the season. The Rebels won only one of their first six SEC series this year. Game two will air on the SEC Network Saturday at 3 p.m.