GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After being held hitless through four innings, No. 5 national-seeded Florida strung together four hits in the fifth to pull away from the Boston University softball team, 3-0, in the opening round of the NCAA regionals Friday afternoon at the Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The two-time defending SEC champion Gators (45-15) earned their third shutout in four games by holding the two-time defending Patriot League champion Terriers (37-19) to four hits. Two-time PL Pitcher of the Year
Ali DuBois (23-10) helped BU become the first non-major conference opponent to hold Florida below five hits with the help of four strikeouts, while two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year Kelly Barnhill (31-11) tallied five strikeouts.
Senior
Alex Heinen, sophomore
Marina Sylvestri, freshman
Nicole Amodio and freshman
Aliyah Huerta-Leipner all collected one single apiece to lead the offense.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Heinen earned the game's first hit with a two out single up the middle before Barnhill ended the threat with her second strikeout of the inning.
- The Gators' three-time All-American Amanda Lorenz led off with a walk, but DuBois induced a fly out and pair of ground outs to keep the game scoreless.
- DuBois ran intro trouble in the bottom of the second after the umpire crew called her with an illegal pitch on what would have been a fly out.
- DuBois walked the batter and hit the next Gator to put two on with zero outs, but the fiery pitcher stood tall with a ground out and back-to-back strikeouts.
- Sylvestri earned the game's second hit in the top of the fifth with a one-out single through the left side before Barnhill tallied back-to-back strikeouts of her own.
- In the bottom half, DuBois started with a ground out, but the Gators had a single and sac bunt to put a runner in scoring position at the top of the lineup.
- Three-time All-American and 2018 SEC Player of the Year Amanda Lorenz drew her second walk of the game to set up a two-out RBI double by Minnesota transfer and 2018 Big 10 Player of the Year Kendyl Lindaman.
- The Gators added a two-RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0.
- Trying to mount a rally, Amodio and Huerta-Leipner led off the sixth with consecutive singles, but Barnhill earned a pair of pop ups and her fifth strikeout to keep BU off the scoreboard.
- Freshman Emily Gant entered the circle in the seveth for DuBois to earn three quick outs, and Barnhill accomplished the same feat for the shutout.
GAME NOTES
- Lorenz (.418) struck out for just the 16th time this season against DuBois in the bottom of the third
- Making their third NCAA regional appearance in four years, the Terriers are now 7-19 all-time in the tournament.
- The three runs allowed were the fewest since BU claimed an 8-3 win over American Athletic Conference champion Louisville in 2014.
- BU dropped to 0-4 this season against the SEC following an earlier 4-0 loss to then-No. 8 Tennessee and pair of defeats at then-No. 14 Arkansas (4-2, 12-7).
- Ranked eighth nationally, Florida improved to 2-1 all-time against BU in the first meeting since the Terriers prevailed, 4-3, in 2000.
NEXT UP: STANFORD
- BU will face off against the Cardinal on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. after Stanford fell to Boise State, 9-0, in the first game of Friday's regional.
- The winner will face the loser of Florida/Boise State immediately afterwards, while the other team will see its season come to an end.
- BU is 1-1 against the Cardinal, last dropping an 8-0 decision in Arizona in 2004.
- The games are scheduled for ESPN3.
