Florida A&M Lady Rattlers Fall 6-0 To No.1 Seed Florida Gators

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GAINESVILLE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Women's Softball team dropped a tough 6-0 decision to the University of Florida in the opening round of the NCAA Gainesville Regional at KSP Stadium Friday night.

Florida A&M (18-38) defied expectations of being a quick out for the defending national champion Gators (51-6), which had scored eight-run rule decisions against FAMU in their last four meetings, including last year's regional opener.

But FAMU freshman pitcher Veronica Burse (3-19), was unfazed, pitching five and one third innings, scattering eight hits, with one strike out and four walks, using a variety of outside and low pitches to keep the heavy-hitting Gators off balance at the plate.

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After UF plated a pair of runs in the first, they could only manage single runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, led by leadoff hitter Kelsey Stewart, who had three of the Gators' eight hits, scoring the game's first run, after reaching on a triple, via a double by Nicole DeWitt.

FAMU offensively was handcuffed by Florida freshman pitcher Aleshia Ocasio, who tied a UF single-game record with 17 strikeouts.

Ocasio's no-hit bid was broken up in the sixth inning, when FAMU's Amanda Weaver lashed a two-out single into right field.

WHAT'S NEXT: Florida A&M will face Florida Atlantic, which dropped a 1-0 decision to Hofstra, in a 3:30 p.m. elimination game.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION