Gator softball team surges past Kentucky, 9-3, reaches SEC semifinals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) -Freshmen Kendra Falby and Reagan Walsh each tallied three hits, and No. 5 seed Florida scored six runs in the first two innings to pull away from No. 4 seed Kentucky, 9-3 in Thursday’s SEC quarterfinal matchup at KSP Stadium. Florida (43-15) will play top seed Arkansas.

Florida got to work early and wore out UK pitching. The Wildcats were on their third hurler before the second inning was over. Leading 1-0 in the top of the first, Walsh ripped a two-run single over the head of the third baseman to give UF a 3-0 lead after a half inning.

With the bases loaded and one out in the second, Charla Echols hit a ground-rule double to right field. Walsh followed with her third RBI, and Florida led, 6-2 through two innings.

Skylar Wallace capped the scoring with a solo homer in the sixth. Elizabeth Hightower collected the win in the circle, allowing three earned runs on five hits in four and a third innings. Rylee Trlicek picked up the save by tossing the final two and two thirds innings.

Friday’s SEC Semifinals:

Tennessee vs. Missouri, 3:00

Florida vs. Arkansas, 5:30