GAINESVILLE — Florida’s power-packed lineup supplied no punch when it mattered most to arrange a do-or-die Sunday with Georgia, the Gators’ longtime nemesis through the NCAA softball Tremendous Regionals.
UF, the No. 3 seed, fell 2-1 to the unseeded Bulldogs throughout Sport 2 of the best-of-three sequence for a visit to the Ladies’s Faculty World Sequence.
Florida is 6-0 in Sport 3s, however should discover the offensive success that has carried the Gators (47-15) all season.
The Gators entered Saturday third nationally with 436 RBI, however completed 1 for 15 with runners in scoring place and left 13 on base, together with 4 every by Taylor Shumaker, Ava Brown and Kenleigh Cahalan. Florida struck out eight instances, seven of them swinging, because the postseason strain intensified in opposition to the Bulldogs (35-22) — now 5-1 in opposition to the Gators within the Tremendous Regionals.
“We had an opportunity to win,” coach Tim Walton stated. “We simply didn’t execute.”
Cahalan popped out to second base on the primary pitch she confronted to finish the sport with two runners on base. Korbe Otis flew out to deep left heart subject on the earlier at bat, the second shot to the warning observe on a day the veteran left fielder had two of her group’s seven hits and drove in the one run.
“We’re one swing away from profitable that recreation,” Otis stated.
A day after Keagan Rothrock restricted Georgia to 2 hits throughout a 6-1 win, the Bulldogs chased the Gators sophomore within the backside of the second inning after she allowed her second solo dwelling run on simply 24 pitches. Shortstop Emily Digby’s shot to left subject gave Georgia a 2-0 lead after designated hitter Lyndi Rae Davis tagged Rothrock within the Bulldogs’ second at-bat, sending a towering shot to proper heart subject.
The Gators left the bases loaded within the high of second inning when Brown struck out, starting a irritating day on the plate for Walton’s squad.
“We have been chasing balls out of the zone,” Walton stated. “We had extra swinging misses as we speak, in all probability than we’ve had. That simply tells you in regards to the magnitude of the sport.
“It’s a bit bit totally different whenever you get into woulda, coulda, shoulda Faculty World Sequence, all these issues.”
After escaping a bases-loaded jam, Bulldogs pitcher Lilli Backes settled down. Within the high of the third inning, she struck out three Gators swinging to present her 6 Ks.
The Gators did, nevertheless, proceed to threaten.
However after Otis’ deep fly ball to the warning observe in heart subject with the bases loaded lower the result in 2-1, Cahalan grounded out to finish the inning runners on second and third.
Florida’s remaining probability started when hard-hitting first baseman Regan Walsh drilled Backes in the proper shoulder with a line drive to open the seventh inning. Momentarily shocked and smarting, the Georgia senior left scooped up the ball and made an errant throw to first base to permit Walsh to succeed in second.
Mia Williams then drew a stroll to present the Gators two runners with no out, however Brown struck out once more.
After her remaining Ok of the day, Backes exited having allowed seven hits and placing out eight on 127 pitches to present option to Randi Roelling for the ultimate two outs.
After Rothrock’s early struggles, the mixture of Olivia Miller, a sophomore from Orlando, and senior Kara Hammock held Georgia to simply two hits. Rothrock (15-6) is prone to get the beginning Sunday rested and able to assist the Gators advance to their thirteenth WCWS beneath Walton.
Otis expects Florida’s hitters to do their half this time.
“Tomorrow’s a brand new day popping out, she stated. “We’ll be very ready and really assured getting into.”
Edgar Thompson might be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
