No. 11 Florida’s Wallace drives walk-off win vs. Mizzou

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The end of the series between the eighth-ranked Florida softball team and Missouri came down to the final exit as the Orange & Blue clinched the series with a 4-3 win in walk-off fashion Sunday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

The Gators (22-5, 2-1 SEC) claimed their first Southeastern Conference series of the year, 2-1, with a victory over the Tigers (19-11, 1-5 SEC).

UF fielded a complete team effort to secure the win as seven different players had a hit in the contest, including Skylar Wallace’s 2-for-4 performance at the plate with two stolen bases, one game-tying RBI and the game-tying run scored. -winning run on a ball in the dirt thrown by Taylor Pannell.

Early in the game, Missouri jumped out ahead 2-0 via a bases loaded RBI walk in the top of the 1st inning and a solo home run in the 3rd inning of action.

However, Florida fought back and tied the game in the 4th inning 2-2. Charla Echols led off the frame with a walk, which was followed by a line drive double off the bat of Reagan Walsh that put runners on second and third with no outs.

The Tigers opted for a pitching change and brought in Laurin Krings in relief of starter Jordan Weber. Krings battled with UF right fielder Pal Egan in which Egan placed a ground ball in the right side of the Missouri infield that allowed Echols to score easily from first base.

Avery Goelz tied the game 2-2 when he plated Walsh on an RBI infield single to second base.

The Gators also made a change in the circle in the top half of the 4th inning before the game was tied. Senior Rylee Trlicek (7-1) entered in relief of Elizabeth Hightower and limited Missouri to just one run over four innings of work.

One run came in the top of the 6th inning when the Tigers drove in the go-ahead run and went up 3-2 on an RBI groundout to second.

Despite the deficit, Florida was not going to be denied its first win of the season in front of the fans at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Freshman hitter Kaila Pollard stepped into the box as the leadoff batter in the bottom of the 7th inning and sent a single through the right side of the Tigers’ infield to put the run away.

Katie Kistler re-entered the game in place of Pollard and made it to second base on Emily Wilkies who was caught on a SAC bunt.

After a groundout to the catcher that allowed Kistler to move to third, Wallace dug into the batter’s box to provide the heroics. The Woodstock, Ga. native ripped a game-tying RBI single up the middle that scored Kistler, then proceeded to steal second and advance all the way to third base after the Tigers catcher’s throw ended up in the outfield.

Missouri chose to intentionally walk both Echols and Walsh in the next at-bat and then made a change in the circle. Pannell entered the game to face pinch hitter Olivia Gigante and worked an 0-2 count before she spiked her fourth pitch into the dirt allowing Wallace to score the game-winning run.

Notable:

• The Gators took their first Southeastern Conference series of the season 2-1 over Missouri.
• Florida improved to 17-6 all-time against Missouri.
• Skylar Wallace pitched his sixth game of the season and stole a pair of bases. Wallace has now reached base safely in 23 consecutive games. He is also currently on a five game hit-streak. The Woodstock, Ga. native recorded a season-high five assists in the day’s win.
• Charla Echols extended her hitting streak safely to 14 games after a pair of walks.
• Avery Goelz made 11 putouts in today’s win, which is tied for his season high of 12.

Until Next Time

The Gators will be out of conference for a solo midweek game against Stetson at Patricia Wilson Field this Wednesday, March 22, at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.