Gator Softball Suffers First Loss of the Season to Bruins

The No. 3 Florida softball team fell to No. 1 UCLA Thursday, in the team’s first matchup of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The Bruin bats put 10 runs on the board in just 5 innings, outscoring the Gators 10-0 and handing the team their first loss of the season.

Final #GoGators | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/t9DhCF5FBU

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) February 24, 2023

Bruins Offense

UCLA’s Megan Grant put the team on the scoreboard first. She doubled to left field and scored Savannah Pola. Jordan Woolery came out swinging next, scoring Pola with a double up the middle, making it 2-0 at the end of the Bruins first offensive showing.

It didn’t end there. Maya Brady tripled in the second, scoring Pola and Anna Vines. The Bruins were up 4-0 until the fourth inning. It was then that the game busted open and ended for the Gators. Brady singled up the middle, scoring Janelle Meono, making it 5-0 UCLA, and two RBIs for Brady. Grant earned her second RBI with a single up the middle, too, scoring Pola and making it 6-0 UCLA. Alyssa Garcia came in clutch with an RBI walk for the team, scoring Lauryn Carter, making it 7-0 UCLA. After that, Ramsey Suarez made it 9-0 for the Bruins with a single. She scored Kelli Godin and Lauren Hatch. To close out the Bruins game-winning offensive showing, Alexis Ramirez singled to the left center gap, scoring Pinedo and making it 10-0, Bruins on top.

The Difference in the Circle

Rylee Trlicek, now 4-1 on the season, started on the mound for the Gators. Samantha Bender and Olivia Gigante both came in as recovery and contributed with a pair of strikeouts. Even so, the three of them gave up 12 hits to the Bruins’ 13-0 offense. Megan Faraimo was in the circle for UCLA. She committed only one walk and struck out nine Gators.

B4 | Gigante forces a pair of outs, including a strikeout, but UCLA plates four more to extend its lead.

DUE UP: Gigante, A. Goelz and Longley

UF-0 | UCLA-10

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) February 24, 2023

Coming Up for Gators Softball

The Gators Softball team, now 10-1 on the season, will see the field again on Friday in Palm Springs, California. The team will take on UC Riverside for their second game of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.