Gator Softball One-Hits Stetson in Victory

The Florida Gator softball team defeated the Stetson Hatters Wednesday night 4-1 on the road.

The Gators were one out away from a Lexie Delbrey no-hitter. She gave up a home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but was able to finish off the complete game.

Florida’s offense got a pair of two RBI base hits from Reagan Walsh and Kaila Pollard to account for the four runs.

With the win, the Gators improve to 23-5 on the season while Stetson falls to 17-13. These two teams will face off again next Wednesday in Gainesville.

https://twitter.com/GatorsSB/status/1638689837346701312

Scoreless Start

The first two Gator batters were set down by Stetson pitcher Hannah Marien in the top of the first. Charla Echols then singled through the left side for the first Florida base runner of the game. She was left stranded after Olivia Gigante flew out to end the frame.

Outfielder Brianna Clary led off the bottom half for the Hatters with a hit-by-pitch. After this, Delbrey set down the next 20 batters she faced as she was marvelous all night.

Neither team was able to get anything going offensively the first four innings as Marien and Delbrey were dueling in the circle.

Going into the fifth, the score was still tied at 0-0.

Gators Get on Top

In the top half of the fifth, the Gators finally broke though off Marien. What looked to be another easy frame for the freshman right-hander turned into a big inning for Florida.

After two straight outs, Katie Kistler popped one in the infield that couldn’t be brought in despite a diving effort from Stetson shortstop Kami Eppley as Kistler reached with a single. Skylar Wallace then doubled to right-center to put two runners in scoring position. They were both brought home on a screamer down the left field line by Walsh to put Florida up 2-0.

T5 | Two Out Rally! Kistler singles, Wallace doubles and Walsh drives them both in with a double down the left line! #GoGators

Gators-2 | Hatters-0 pic.twitter.com/QSi3EROGx8

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) March 22, 2023

Delbrey continued to deal in the bottom half as she set down the side in order again. The Gators led by two with just two innings to go.

Florida Tacks On and Closes it Out

Gigante led off the top of the sixth with a double to right-center. Pal Egan then walked to put two runners on base. Then, after a sacrifice bunt from Sam Roe, Pollard dropped one into right field to plate a pair on a single to put Florida up four.

Pollard delivers with a two-RBI single to right center field! #GoGators

Gators-4 | Hatters-0 pic.twitter.com/Jcn1IMjo1Q

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) March 22, 2023

The bottom of the sixth ended just as quickly as it started. It took Delbrey just four pitches to retire the side as she was just three outs away from a no-hitter.

The Gators went down quietly in the top of the seventh as relief pitcher Lauren Klein was on point.

In the bottom half, Delbrey got the first two batters out on fly balls, which was her bread and butter all night. Evette Morgan stepped up to the plate as the last chance for Stetson and the final obstacle in the way of Delbrey’s no-no. Morgan got ahead 3-1 and blasted a home run over the left field wall to put an end to the no-hit bid.

Delbrey then got Annabella McClerren to fly out to center field to end the ball game as the Gators won by a final score of 4-1.

Gators Travel to Fayetteville

After its victory over Stetson, the Gator softball team will go on the road again to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks this weekend. They will play a three-game series starting with Game 1 Friday night at 7.