GAME 1: ALABAMA 7, FLORIDA 4
The Crimson Tide stayed red hot at the plate… at least for one inning. It all started with GUESS WHO Audrey Vandagriff who led off the game with a single and, of course, stole second base.
As mentioned in the preview, something ain’t right with Gators former ace Keagan Rothrock. But I suppose UF coach Tim Walton is not an avid reader of RBR the way Patrick Murphy is. Thus, the Crimson Tide put up seven runs in the first frame, highlighted by Vandagriff’s second time to bat in the inning when she stroked a bases-clearing double down the third base line.
A pretty awful relay throw, huh?
Kali Heivilin was the next batter and got beaned – the third HBP of the inning. That was enough for Walton as he yanked his starting pitcher and brought in the Gators’ forgotten fifth pitcher, Olivia Miller, who actually pitched really well. So well, that she lasted 4.1 innings and allowed only two hits – both to Riley Valentine. Florida’s fourth pitcher Kara Hammock hurled two no-hit innings to close it out.
As for the Alabama pitching, why can’t we just have nice things? Jocelyn Briski had a dubious start with a walk and two wild pitches to put the leadoff runner at third. All it took was a ground out to make it 7-1 in the bottom of the 1st.
In the 3rd with a runner on second base, a line drive was hit to Briski. She got a glove on it but the ball fell at her feet. She had plenty of time to pick the ball up and throw the runner out, but instead threw wide for an error, 7-2.
Again in an odd-numbered inning*, Briski had issues in the 5th. A couple of singles made it 7-3. Following a walk, Catelyn Riley relieved and got out of the inning.
One more UF run crossed the plate in the 7th on a double and a single.
[*Alabama pitchers pitched the minimum in the even-numbered innings.]
NOTES:
- YAY for the win but lots to be concerned about: 1) Only two UA hits (by Valentine) and no runs over the last six innings; 2) Bama pitching was not great. If not for Walton’s boneheaded stubbornness, this could have been 4-0 the other way.
- The six Bama hits came from four batters – and five from players RBR has championed. Two came from Vandagriff, who we campaigned for leadoff hitter early in the season. Two also from Valentine and one from Johnson, both of whom we highly questioned why they were not playing more. The other hit was from Giles who served as DH – good spot for her.
- The Tide infield went a big fat 0 for 9 at the plate in Game 1. However, they cleanly fielded every ball that came to them and also turned their 26th double play of the season. That twin-killing tied the Alabama single-season school record that has stood since 2003.
- As mentioned, Murphy once again went with the BRR-recommended lineup of starting Lauren Johnson over Larissa Preuitt. Even still for some reason, he replaced LoJo with Preuitt in the bottom of the 7th as a defensive replacement. Am I missing something here? Has Murphy not SEEN Johnson play the outfield?? Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C.
- If former Bama player Kenleigh Cahalan was looking for some kind of I-told-ya-so moment, it wasn’t in this game. Batting sixth, she grounded out, fouled out, and lined into double play.
- The game was a sellout.
MVP
- VANDAGRIFF – 2 for 3, 1 run, 3 RBI, 2B, SB
UP NEXT
- Friday, Apr 18 at Florida 5pm/6pm SECN
- Saturday, Apr 19 at Florida 1pm/2pm ESPN2
#RollTide #Team29
