GAINESVILLE, Fla. ? Kelsey Volz recorded the University of South Alabama’s only hit against No. 2 Florida Saturday afternoon as the Jags fell 13-0 on the second day of the Florida Lipton Invitational. Due to storms, the Jaguars (2-6) will play Coastal Carolina Sunday at 9 a.m. in their final game of the event.
Florida (7-1) put two runs on the board in the first inning when Kelsey Bruder hit a single up the middle to score Ali Gardiner. One batter later, Corrie Brooks brought in Francesca Enea with a single down the left side.
In her only at bat of the game, Volz knocked a single to center field in the first inning for what would be USA’s only hit of the game.
With no outs in the third, the Gators hit back-to-back triples to center field with Kim Waleszonia scoring on Gardiner’s triple for Florida’s third run of the game. Meghan Harbuck came in to relieve Beth Pilgrim and retired the next three batters. Pilgrim finished the game with one strikeout in two innings pitched.
Even with a change in the circle, UF added to its lead with one out in the fourth. The Gators loaded the bases off three walks, with Le-Net Franklin scoring when Michelle Moultrie was hit by a pitch to make it a 4-0 contest. Gardiner reached on fielder’s choice to score Kristina Hilberth, followed by a grand slam-home run down the left line by Enea to extend the lead to 9-0.
In the second pitching change of the game, USA brought in Shannon Smith to get the final two outs. Harbuck pitched 1.1 innings while giving up two hits.
The Gators tacked on four more runs in the fifth as Gardiner singled to right field to bring Hilberth across the plate. Enea followed with a single to right center to bring in Aja Paculba, while Moultrie came home on the play when Bruder reached on an error.
Gardiner scored the final run of the game after Brooks reached on a fielder’s choice, to cap the score at 13-0 in the five-inning run rule. Smith pitched 1.2 innings for the Jags while recording one strikeout.
Gardner finished 3-for-4 with three RBI in the game, with Bruder, Enea and Waleszonia all recording two hits. Enea drove in five runs.
Stephanie Brombacher (4-0) earned the victory, striking out seven without issuing a walk in 5.0 innings.
“We play these games in order to get ready for the conference season,” head coach Becky Clark said. “It is important for us when we play them, that we work on certain things to help us improve and get better. We have to use today as a learning experience and let it help us against conference teams.”
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
