Women’s College World Series Florida vs. UCLA Recap
Game 6: Winner’s Bracket Florida vs. UCLA
To no one’s surprise, Kelly Barnhill got the start for Florida. The junior came out firing and retired the first three UCLA batters in order via strikeout. Amanda Lorenz led things off for the Gators offense by delivering a hard ground ball to short stop that was bobbled. With one out, Kayli Kvistad delivered a base hit to right field, putting Gator runners on the corners. With two outs, a wild pitch over the catcher scored Lorenz from third putting the Gators up 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, Sophia Reynoso blasted a two-out home run off UCLA starter Rachel Garcia, extending the Gator lead to 2-0.
After the top half of the third, Barnhill had retired eight Bruin hitters in a row via strikeout.
In the bottom of the third, Lorenz reached first after a walk. Two hitters later, Kvistad stepped up to the plate and launched a monster home run to put Florida up 4-0.
The Bruins loaded the bases in the top of the fourth via error, hit by pitch, and a walk. With one out, Bubba Nickles drew a bases loaded walk, scoring UCLA’s first run of the game. A pop fly in foul territory would allow the Bruin runner to tag from third, cutting the lead to 4-2. With two outs, Taylor Pack launched a home run- to record UCLA’s first hit and gain the 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Kvistad recorded her third hit of the game. The senior had three of Florida’s five hits at this mark in the game. Janell Wheaton made the fans hold their breath in the next at bat, smashing a towering fly ball that was caught at the left field fence.
In the top of the sixth inning with one out, Bubba Nickles launched the first pitch of the at bat over the left field wall, increasing the Bruins lead to 6-4.
In the bottom of the sixth pinch hitter Jordan Roberts stepped up to the plate and for the second night in a row, blasted a solo home run, which cut the Bruins lead to 6-5. A misplayed ground ball off the UCLA short stop put runners on first and third for Florida with two outs. Garcia went right at Lorenz, the next Gator hitter, and retired her via ground out.
Rachel Garcia was lights out in the bottom of the seventh, striking out the side. UCLA advanced and will play on Sunday June 3 at 2:30 p.m. Florida drops down to the Loser Bracket and will play the winner of Oklahoma vs. Arizona state on Saturday June 2 at 6 p.m.
