Each team has scored a run in the first... Florida puts up four in the second, including a three-run homer by Kirsti Merritt, to go up 5-1... Bama scores one in the top of the third to make it 5-2 and is threatening in the top of the fourth (runners on second and third with no outs)... Florida escapes the top of the fourth unscathed, as Crimson Tide hitters go down on a weak pop-up, a strike-out, and (following a walk) a hard one-bounce liner to the second-baseperson (who bobbles the ball, but throws to first in time)...
Bama is down to its final at-bats in the top of the seventh, trailing Florida, 6-2... A diving catch in center by Merritt puts the Gators two outs away from the title... After a Haylie McCleney triple for the Tide, an Alabama fly out to shallow left marks the second out. Gators one out away from the title...
Kaila Hunt singles in McCleney, 6-3 Gators...
Grounder back to pitcher Hannah Rogers ends the game. Florida wins its first-ever NCAA softball title, the second by an SEC team (Alabama in 2012 was the first)...
Bama is down to its final at-bats in the top of the seventh, trailing Florida, 6-2... A diving catch in center by Merritt puts the Gators two outs away from the title... After a Haylie McCleney triple for the Tide, an Alabama fly out to shallow left marks the second out. Gators one out away from the title...
Kaila Hunt singles in McCleney, 6-3 Gators...
Grounder back to pitcher Hannah Rogers ends the game. Florida wins its first-ever NCAA softball title, the second by an SEC team (Alabama in 2012 was the first)...