The Gators collected their first three-game sweep over a top-five opponent since March 6-8, 2011.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- No. 1 Florida (41-3) utilized a two-run single by Aubree Munro in the second inning and stellar pitching by junior Delanie Gourley to defeat No. 5 Louisiana-Lafayette (32-6), 3-0, on Sunday afternoon to finish a weekend sweep. The Gators collected their first three-game sweep over a top-five opponent since March 6-8, 2011 when the Gators beat No. 3 Tennessee in Gainesville.
In addition, this was Florida's first-ever three-game sweep over a top-five ranked non-conference opponent in program history.
Gourley (13-2) registered eight strikeouts over 4.2 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and no runs, to pick up the win. Gourley relieved freshman Kelly Barnhill who started the game and threw the first 2.2 innings. Florida's rookie right-hander recorded three strikeouts but allowed three hits and four walks.
The Ragin' Cajuns were shutout for just the second time this season.
Florida captured the momentum in the second inning of today's game and carried that throughout the contest.
With runners on first and second and no one out in the top half of the second, Florida recorded a 1-4-3 triple play to end the inning. That was the third triple play in school history, with the previous two coming during the 2010 and 1999 seasons.
UF carried that new-found energy into the bottom of the second, as Nicole DeWitt and Janell Wheaton led off the inning with a pair of singles. After they moved into scoring positon on a groundout, Munro drove them in with a two-run single to left giving Florida a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Barnhill allowed a pair of two-out hits and a walk prompting head coach Tim Walton to make a pitching change. Gourley entered the bases-loaded jam and struck out the first hitter she faced on three pitches to get out of the inning.
Florida added an insurance run in the third when DeWitt recorded her second hit of the contest, this one an RBI single to right extending the UF lead to 3-0.
That was all the run support Gourley would need as ULL was unable to get a runner into scoring position the remainder of the game.
