5 Things You May Have Missed in College Softball Friday
Georgia Defeats Florida in Walk-Off Fashion
Georgia shortstop Alyssa DiCarlo hit a two-run home run over the wall in right-center field to walk off against the No. 2 Florida Gators Friday evening at Jack Turner Stadium, 5-4. No. 8 Georgia keeps its winning streak alive at 24 games, improving to 25-1 on the season and 4-0 in Southeastern Conference play. It’s the first time since 2014 Georgia has opened SEC play 4-0. This is the first regular-season victory Georgia has had over the Gators since Apr. 26, 2013. Florida starter Kelly Barnhill worked two innings, allowing three runs to the Bulldogs, the most the right-hander has surrendered to an opponent all season. Entering the game, she had also allowed one home run; Georgia hit three. The Bulldogs and Gators face off in game two of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. at Jack Turner Stadium.
JMU Freshman Tosses No-Hitter
JMU freshman pitcher Payton Buresch hurled her first collegiate no-hitter, while the offense tallied 21 runs on 18 hits over two games to lead James Madison softball past Stony Brook (13-0), and Ohio (8-0). Buresch’s (9-3) first career no-hitter comes on the anniversary of the programs first no-hitter in 2005 as Briana Carrera tossed six innings of ball only walking one batter. Buresch pitched five innings, facing 18 batters only walking three while fanning four. The Dukes improved to 19-5 and picked up their first two home wins of the season. The Dukes will retake the field tomorrow at 4 p.m. and will face off against Ohio.
Florida State Blanks Virginia Tech
Redshirt senior Kylee Hanson made her first appearance in an ACC game as No. 13 Florida State (19-6, 1-0 ACC) defeated Virginia Tech (11-13, 1-3 ACC) on Friday night at JoAnne Graf Field. Hanson earned the complete-game shutout and recorded ten strikeouts and has not allowed a run in her last 24.1 innings. She currently leads the ACC with a 0.84 ERA and is limiting opponents to a .135 batting average. Sydney Sherrill’s two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the difference in a game that had just six combined hits from the two teams. The win increases Florida State’s ACC winning streak to 27 games, dating back to 2016. The Seminoles and Hokies will play game two of the three-game series on Saturday, March 17 at 1:00 p.m.
South Carolina Defeats Ole Miss
No. 20 South Carolina opened up SEC play with a commanding 7-3 win over Ole Miss on Friday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. Carolina took an early 5-0 lead thanks to four runs scored with two outs in the fourth. Alyssa VanDerveer led the way at the plate for Carolina, going 4-for-4 with two RBI. Cayla Drotar (12-1) earned the victory in the circle, going all seven innings allowing just one earned run while striking out two. Carolina goes for the series win against Ole Miss tomorrow at 5:00 PM ET.
UCLA Tops Oregon in PAC-12 Opener
No. 3 UCLA improved to 25-0 on the season after earning a 6-2 victory over No. 6 Oregon at Jane Sanders Stadium on Friday. Bruin pitcher Rachel Garcia (11-0) was impressive on the mound and at the plate. The redshirt sophomore struck out 16 Duck hitters, scattered two runs on five hits over seven innings pitched and also hit a solo home run on the offensive side. The Bruins had nine hits from six different players against the dominant Oregon pitching staff. UCLA Senior Kylee Perez produced three hits of her own, and junior Taylor Pack had two. The Bruins and Ducks will meet again for game two of three on Saturday at 7 p.m. PT.
