Castro powers Florida over Tennessee, into finals

By Adam Silverstein
May 11, 2012

An extra-inning solo home run by freshman pinch hitter Bailey Castro on Friday launched No. 7 Florida Gators softball into the finals of the 2012 Southeastern Conference Tournament for the first time since 2009.

Florida (46-10) used Castro’s tie-breaking bomb to take their first and only lead in a 2-1 victory over the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers (46-10) during semifinal action.

Tennessee jumped ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first as a fielding error by freshman second baseman Katie Medina (0/2) allowed the Volunteers to plate the first run. The Gators utilized a two-out rally to tie the contest in the third as freshman third baseman Sami Fagan (4/4, R, SB) singled, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored when sophomore shortstop Cheyenne Coyle (1/3, RBI, BB) singled up the middle.

Florida junior right-hander Hannah Rogers (27-6) pitched a gem after allowing an unearned run in her first frame, ending her outing by giving up just four hits and two walks while striking out four in 7.0 innings. After Castro (1/1, HR, RBI, R) knocked her ball out of the park to left center on a 3-2 count, freshman RHP Lauren Haeger came on to close things out and retired Tennessee in order for her second save of the season.

Two-seed UF will face either one-seed Alabama or four-seed Georgia for the SEC Championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will air live nationally on ESPN.

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