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Three takeaways from the Gators' series victory over No. 17 Auburn

Untitled_design__8_-removebg-previewby:Pat O'Donnell•04/04/22•

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Florida pitcher Elizabeth Hightower. (UAA Communications)

The seventh-ranked Florida Gators softball team clinched a 2-1 series victory over Auburn with Sunday’s 3-0 shutout win on the Plains. 

UF has now won 14 consecutive series over the Tigers and holds a 30-6 record on the season with a 7-5 record in SEC play, ranking sixth in the conference standings.

Florida fell 3-1 on Friday but was able to bounce back Saturday with a nail-biting 7-6 win followed by Sunday’s shutout.

Here are three takeaways from the Gators’ second SEC road series victory of the season.

Gators showed they can handle adversity

After falling just short Friday night, the Gators took Saturday and Sunday by storm. They combined for 20 hits in the last two games after just six in the series opener.

Florida also had to fend off a rally from the Tigers on Saturday. After UF jumped out to a 7-2 lead through five innings of action. Auburn scored four runs in the final two innings with a tying runner on third base and the winning runner on first base in the seventh. 

Despite the Tigers taking all the momentum, Florida pitcher Natalie Lugo was able to retire the side and evened the series.

Facing a rowdy Auburn crowd Sunday, the Gators still ended up with a shutout win to clinch. 

Elizabeth Hightower continues dominance

The Florida ace started in the circle both Friday and Sunday, and she didn’t disappoint.

In a losing effort, Hightower earned a season-high nine strikeouts in a complete game on Friday. The UF offense just couldn’t get runs on the board.

Hightower was able to keep the Tigers off the board for the first three innings of action, but they eventually hit two homers and scored three runs to get the victory Friday night.

Hightower bounced back and looked even better Sunday, as she earned her second complete game shutout of the season with five strikeouts and three hits. She had complete control of her pitches and simply shut the Tigers down.

Confidence-builder for week ahead

The Gators have their hands full this coming week.

They take on 2021 national runner-up and No. 2 Florida State Wednesday night at home before hosting the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide for a three-game series starting Saturday.

Winning the final game of a three-game series is always important, but it was a much-needed win to give the Gators momentum moving into a gauntlet of a week of softball.

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