Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Delanie Gourley and Aleshia Ocasio linked up for the fifth combined no-hitter in Florida softball history during a 10-0 rout over five innings to complete the sweet over South Carolina Sunday, March 19, at Beckham field. Gourley (11-1) threw four-complete innings while Ocasio took over in the circle to finish the final inning of play.
The Gators (26-1, 5-0 SEC) last combined no-hitter occurred on May 8, 2010 with the duo of Stephanie Brombacher & Erin Schuppert manufactured one against South Carolina (19-10, 1-5 SEC) in a 20-0 (5) blitzing in the series opener.
Offensively, the bats came alive in the third inning of play against the Gamecocks as Ocasio jump-started the inning with a single up the middle and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Justine McLean.
Freshman Sophia Reynoso, one of Florida’s hottest hitters, belted her second home run of the season in the next at-bat to put the Gators ahead 2-0. The inning continued with walks drawn by Nicole DeWitt, Kayli Kvistad and Janell Wheaton to load the bases for the top RBI producer on the team, Jaimie Hoover.
Hoover, who entered the contest with 27 RBIs on the season, ripped a shot down the right field line under the outstretched glove of Kennedy Clark to unload the bases for a standup triple and a 5-0 lead.
Back-to-back one out singles in the fourth from McLean and Reynoso kept the Gators offense rolling and set stage for DeWitt’s RBI single up the middle to push the lead out to 6-0. Lorenz extended her reached base streak and loaded the bases with her 22nd walk of the season.
Another Florida run crossed home plate in the following at-bat with a bases loaded walk from Kvistad. Hoover reached a new career-milestone for RBIs in the game and put the Gators up 9-0 with a two RBI single up the middle.
DeWitt produced her seventh RBI of the weekend on a bases loaded SAC fly in the fifth inning that scored Ocasio. Ocasio led the inning with a single to center field and finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate.
Notables
- Hoover’s 2-for-3 five RBI day is her seventh multiple RBI game of the season which leads the team.
o The mark is also a new career-high for RBIs in the game and now sits with 32 on the season.
- DeWitt wrapped up the series hitting .571 (4-for-7) with eight runs scored and seven RBIs via a double, two home runs, three walks and a hit by pitch.
- Reynoso was 6-for-10 (.600) at the plate on the weekend with a double, home run, five runs scored and an RBI.
- The Gators hit four home runs in the series against South Carolina and a total of 10 extra base hits.
Coaches Corner
“I was really proud of our pitching staff; to only give up one run on the road, in the SEC, is an outstanding task to accomplish. All three pitchers just did a really good job of not only not making very many mistakes but just kind of commanding the tempo through the whole weekend.”
“Any time she comes up to the plate with runners on in scoring position, I think she has a chance to get RBI. So, I’m really proud of her for being able to have a nice day at the plate on a Sunday during an SEC weekend when your opponent has you scouted out to the max.”