Razorbacks drop series finale in Gainesville

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Razorback softball team ended its weekend of play with a 6-0 loss to No. 1 Florida at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Tori Mort reached base for the fifth consecutive game with a walk in the fourth inning, but the Razorback offense was shutout for the third time of the weekend as Florida starter Stacey Nelson recorded her second no-hitter of the season.Florida posted the game’s first run on a single to left field by Ali Gardiner in the first inning. With runners on first and second, Gardiner lined a shot through the left side of the infield and Aja Paculba came around to score when Mort could not field the ball cleanly. Arkansas starter Kim Jones got Megan Bush to fly out to Mort to end the inning with two Gators on base.The Razorbacks kept the home team off the scoreboard in the second, but they couldn’t take advantage at the plate as Nelson retired the first 10 batters of the game before walking Mort in the top of the fourth.Kelsey Bruder extended the Gator lead with a two-run shot to center field in the bottom of the third. After Gardiner, who reached on a walk, and Bruder crossed the plate, Florida held a 3-0 lead. The inning came to an end on a defensive gem by freshman shortstop Brittany Griffiths. Corrie Brooks lifted a ball toward shallow left field and Griffiths ran back to make the backhand catch over her head before wheeling around to double Bush off first.With runners on first and third and one out in the bottom of the fourth, Florida tacked on its fourth run of the game on a groundout to first by Kristina Hilberth. Jones limited the damage by getting Gardiner to foul out to Mort to end the inning.The Gators added a run in each of the next two innings on an infield single by Michelle Moultrie in the fifth and a groundout by Francesca Enea in the sixth. After walking Mort in the fourth, Nelson retired the next 11 Razorback hitters to record her second no-hitter of the season.The Razorbacks return to action Wednesday with a midweek doubleheader against UMKC. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Bogle Park. Live stats and broadcast will be carried on ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Download: Florida 6, Arkansas 0.pdf