COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 11
th-ranked Florida softball team fell in the series finale to South Carolina, 3-0, Sunday afternoon at Carolina Softball Stadium.
The Gators (26-9, 4-5 SEC) and the Gamecocks (26-9, 3-6 SEC) squared off for the finale game of the series as right-handed starter
Elizabeth Hightower (11-5) went up against Gamecocks right-hander Donnie Gobourne (6-1) in the circle.
Hightower pitched four complete innings in the circle and held South Carolina to four hits, four walks and three runs, two of which were earned, while reliever
Rylee Trlicek closed out the final two innings in relief and only relinquished one hit and one walk. Gobourne went the distance in the circle for a complete-game, one hit, shutout with four walks and a hit-by-pitch.
Florida loaded the bases in the top of the 1
st inning when Gobourne walked
Kendra Falby, hit
Charla Echols with the first pitch and walked
Pal Egan with two outs before she got out of the jam.
Hightower returned the favor in the bottom half of the 1
st inning when she retired the side in order via a pair of groundouts and a flyout.
South Carolina went on to break onto the scoreboard first with via a solo home run to left field by Riley Blampied to lead off the 2
nd inning to take an initial 1-0 and added two more in the bottom of the third via a double and an error to extend its lead to 3-0.
The Gators threatened in the top of the 4
th inning when
Sam Roe drew a one-out walk and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch over the catcher's head, but managed to get out of the inning unscathed.
Florida made one more push at a rally in the top of the 7
th inning when
Katie Kistler doubled off of Gobourne for UF's first hit of the game, but the rally stalled as Gobourne closed out the game with a strikeout.
The Gators return home to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium this Thursday through Saturday with a three-game series against No. 19 Auburn.
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