Roe walks it off for the No. 3 Gators to sweep the day

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The third-ranked Florida softball team edged Bowling Green, 10-7, and UConn, 4-3, during the second day of the T-Mobile Tournament at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

The Gators (8-0) rallied twice and pushed to compete for seven complete innings in two games against the Falcons (3-5) and Huskies (2-4) after the team produced six consecutive five-inning run-rule. victory to start the year.

In both games Florida leaned on graduating senior Elizabeth Hightower (5-0) as the right-hander entered both contests in relief to shut down opposing batters and pick up two wins in the process. A native of Monticello, Fla. pitched the last 2 2/3 innings as UF came back from being down 7-6 in the 5th inning against the Falcons and threw 3 2/3 innings as the squad rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the 4th inning against the Huskies.

Overall, Hightower pitched 6 1/3 innings with no walks allowed and just two hits to go along with three walks and eight strikeouts.

At the plate, Avery Goelz was nearly perfect on the day as he went 4-for-5 (.800) with three doubles, three RBIs, two walks and a run scored. The Myakka City, Fla. native was instrumental in the Gators comeback win over UConn when he closed down the Huskies lead to 3-2 with a two RBI double in the 4th inning.

Skylar Wallace (3-for-6) and Charla Echols (2-for-4) both hit .500, while Sam Roe was 2-for-5 (.400). Wallace struck out four times, walked three and drove in one, but Echols and Roe produced the winning hits and walks in both games.

With the bases loaded and down 7-6 to the Falcons in the bottom of the 5th inning of game one, Echols drilled an 0-1 pitch to left center that cleared the bases and gave Florida a 9-7 lead it would never relinquish. for the last round of the round.

Roe’s heroics came in the bottom of the 7th inning down 3-2 to the Huskies, but before he stepped up to the plate, Wallace and Echols took back-to-back steps to set the stage for a walk. With Wallace on third and Christina Wellen on third base, Roe lifted the first pitch she was offered down the right field line to keep the Gators’ streak unblemished.

Florida returns to action Sunday in the final day of the T-Mobile Tournament with a pair of games at 11:30 a.m. against Central Michigan and 2 p.m. against Delaware State.