No. 6 Gator Softball Tops No. 8 Texas A&M

The Florida softball team (25-3, 5-2 SEC) extended their all-time series lead over the Aggies(29-5, 3-1 SEC) to 14-4 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Saturday evening. The Gators opened the three-game series with a 6-1 win.

In the Circle

Kelly Barnhill (13-1) started in the circle for Florida and struck out 12 Aggies, the most times they struck out all year.  It’s the seventh time Barnhill registered 10 or more strikeouts in a game. Gator coach Tim Walton said it’s tough for any team to swing off her.

“Give her a lot of credit, I thought Kelly did a really good job of locating and getting ahead in the count today,” Walton said.

Eventually, Barnhill gave up her first hit, but it wasn’t until the fifth inning. Texas A&M’s Payton McBride singled to left to give the Aggies the first hit of the game.  Barnhill allowed just one more hit; Sarah Hudek’s solo home run put the Aggies on the board in the top of the seventh.

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At Bat

The Gators got on the board first, scoring four runs in the first inning. It was the 20th time in 28 games this season where Florida scored in the first inning.

First, a two-RBI single for freshman Jordan Matthews drove in Amanda Lorenz and Nicole DeWitt. Lorenz and DeWitt hit back-to-back singles to reach base. Janell Wheaton extended the lead to 4-0 with a two run homer, her second home run of the season.

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