Alabama Softball’s Season Ends with 2-1 Loss to Florida in NCAA Super Regional Play Saturday

Alabama softball’s season came to an end Saturday evening in Gainesville, as top-seeded Florida won game three of the Super Regional series, 2-1.

Alabama (46-18) fell behind early after a two-run first inning by Florida (55-8) but cut the deficit in half in the top of the second on an RBI single by Elissa Brown. The score remained the same for the rest of the game, as the two pitchers went toe-to-toe with stellar performances in the circle. Kelly Barnhill (24-3) earned the win for the Gators with one run allowed on two hits with 12 strikeouts while Alexis Osorio (23-8) took the loss with two runs allowed on three hits with eight strikeouts. Osorio ends the season with 334 strikeouts and a 1.21 ERA, both of which rank fourth in single-season history at Alabama.

Florida struck the opening blow in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by Aleshia Ocasio and would later load the bases with one out. A popup went for out number two before a hit-by-pitch moved everyone up 60 feet and improved the Gators’ lead to 2-0. A groundout on a bunt attempt ended the inning as Florida left the bases loaded but held an early two-run lead.

With two out in the top of the second, Rachel Bobo hit a 2-2 pitch back up the middle and over the center fielder’s head, who was playing in, and the ball rolled to the wall allowing her to leg out a triple. Brown then slapped a single to the shortstop, reaching base safely as Bobo scored from third and an errant throw allowed Brown to advance to second. A fly ball to right ended the half-inning with the deficit now cut in half, 2-1.

The score remained the same for the next four innings, as Barnhill retired 13-straight Tide batters and Florida could not add to its one-run lead. In the top of the seventh, Reagan Dykes swung at strike three but reached first base on a wild pitch to lead off the half-inning. A force out and a pair of strikeouts would end the game however as the Crimson Tide fell, 2-1, to end its season.