2009 Florida Gators Softball Season - Game Notes - Longwood (Game 3)

Longwood (Game 3)

The Gators squandered countless scoring opportunities in a 3-1 regular-season-ending win that saw 14 Florida runners stranded on base. Longwood ended a 74-inning stretch where Florida's pitching staff had not allowed a single run. The run came in the top of the third on a controversial play in which Stacey Nelson overthrew Aja Paculba, who was covering first. With a runner already on first via a single, the Lancer second baseman laid down a bunt, reached on Nelson's error, and both runners advanced two bases when the ball bounced all the way to the rolled-up tarp in right field. Kristina Hilberth picked off the pinch runner at third for the first out, and Nelson struck out the next two batters. Florida responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs. Francesca Enea led off with a four-pitch walk, Kelsey Bruder, who was nearly hit by a pitch in her first at bat, was pegged on the elbow, and Corrie Brooks doubled to bring in pinch runner Brooke Johnson and tie the game at 1-all. Hilberth put the Gators ahead for good with a game-winning RBI single up the middle.

Florida scored their final run in the bottom of the sixth on a Bruder solo home run to right. After both Ali Gardiner and Enea flew out to deep left and center fields, respectively, Bruder, who had been hit by a second pitch in her previous at-bat, gave the Gators their 70th home run of season. In the top of the final inning, Nelson hit Lancer pitcher Briana Wells before striking out her 10th and 11th batters and exiting the game to a standing ovation along with fellow seniors Gardiner and Hilberth.