Gators Softball Wins on a Barnhill No-Hitter

After dropping the second game on Saturday against Kentucky, the Florida softball team surged back in the third and final game to clinch the series with a 2-0 win. Florida’s Kelly Barnhill threw a no-hitter for the Gators with 15 strikeouts.

Florida (40-3, 15-2 SEC) got off to an early lead as they scored in the first inning. With two outs, Kayli Kvistad hit a double to left center field. She was followed by Janell Wheaton, who has been the clutch hitter for Florida as of late. Wheaton pushed Kvistad in to score with a single to left field.

The Gators scored their second run of the game in the fifth inning, again when there were already two outs. Nicole DeWitt was hit by a pitch and Kvistad walked to put runners on first and second base. Wheaton would deliver again with another single, this time up the middle. DeWitt would score from second base to give Florida a 2-0 lead.

Zero Hits.
15 Strikeouts.@GatorsSB’s Kelly Barnhill … you are RIDICULOUS. pic.twitter.com/i8LMGRuA3S

— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 16, 2017

Barnhill Earns Second Career No-Hitter

Sophomore pitcher Kelly Barnhill was the true star in the Gator performance on Sunday. She faced 22 batters in the contest and struck out 15. Barnhill pitched a no-hitter and just missed a perfect game as she walked a batter in the bottom of the sixth inning. Combined with Friday’s performance, Barnhill recorded 30 strikeouts, while allowing no runs on two hits and two walks in 14 innings pitched against the Wildcats. She has shined all year, along with having the lowest earned run average in the country she is a perfect 18-0 on the season.

Next for the Gators

Next for the third ranked Gators will be a home game with UCF on Wednesday. Then, after that, a SEC home series with 22nd ranked Ole Miss that starts Friday.