FAMU Softball Plays #1 Gators Tough Sunday

TAYLOR ROSIER

Height: 5’9”:

Hometown: Tallahassee, FL

High School: Florida HS

Classification: Freshman

Jersey#: 12

                                             Major: Accounting                                              

Position: Third base

 

GAINESVILLE, Florida – For the second time in as many meetings, the FAMU Women’s Softball team played the top-ranked University of Florida toe-to-toe, taking an early lead Sunday before falling 4-1 at KSP Field in the final game of the UF Aquafina Invitational.

FAMU lost a 6-0 decision to the eventual national champion Gators in last year’s NCAA Regionals, when then-freshman pitcher Veronica Burse kept Florida’s formidable hitters frustrated, leading to the first full game (seven innings) in the history of the series.

Sunday, the Rattlers (5-11) sent Burse to the circle against the unbeaten Gators, and for three and one third innings, she held UF to four hits and one earned run.

Junior Kenya Pereira (3-4) came on in relief in the fourth inning to work the final two and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on two hits with a strikeout, taking the loss.

FAMU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, when Tashayla Irvis and Whitney Farris lashed back-to-back singles, before Nachelle Watson singled home Irvis.

Florida (22-0) answered with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead. They added a final run in the bottom of the sixth to close the scoring.

The Rattlers had three hits, all in the third inning Sunday, while Florida managed six hits against FAMU pitching.

WHAT’S NEXT: FAMU will host Mercer University Wednesday in their 2016 home opener at the FAMU Softball Complex. The doubleheader begins at 4:00 p.m.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION