Florida Gators softball beats Alabama 2-1 in Super Regional, advances to 2017 WCWS

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Image Credit: ESPN

For the eighth time in the last 10 seasons, Florida Gators softball is headed to the Women’s College World Series. No. 1 Florida accomplished this on Saturday with a 2-1 win over the No. 16 Alabama Crimson Tide in Game 3 of the 2017 Gainesville Super Regional.

The Gators dropped the first game of the Super Regional on Thursday; as such, they became just the 18th team in the history of college softball to advance to the WCWS while facing a 1-0 deficit and winning consecutive elimination games in the Super Regional round.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Kelly Barnhill atoned for her opening-game loss, striking out 12 Alabama batters on the afternoon despite only facing 26 at-bats. Barnhill allowed two hits, a walk and one earned run, which was scored in the top of the second due to the confluence of a triple and RBI single aided by an error on a wild throw to first base.

Florida opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first when junior third baseman Aleshia Ocasio hit an RBI single and freshman catcher Jordan Roberts was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. That 2-0 lead gave UF the advantage it needed on the afternoon as Alabama was never able to get closer than the final score.

The Crimson Tide surprised the Gators 3-0 in Game 1, scoring three unearned runs on two errors in the fifth inning. UF was unable to provide any help offensively, and Barnhill picked up just her third loss of the season as a result.

Game 2 featured a solid outing from senior left-handed pitcher Delanie Gourley, who scattered four hits and two walks while striking out eight in a complete game shutout. Sophomore outfielder Amanda Lorenz‘s two-run homer to right center in the third was the lone score of the game, though Florida hit five times in the contest.

UF will play the winner of No. 8 Tennessee and No. 9 Texas A&M to open the WCWS. The Gators are 2-1 against the Vols this season, outscoring their SEC East rivals 15-5, but did not play the Aggies in the regular season. Action in the WCWS begins on Thursday in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.