UF Softball: Lugo Shuts Out Aggies as No. 4 Gators Claim Series
Photo by Leslie White
Courtesy of University Athletic Association
BY HERB BROOKS
Natalie Lugo hurled her second complete-game shutout of an SEC opponent in today’s win
No. 4 Florida captured its eighth Southeastern Conference series with a 4-0 victory over Texas A&M Saturday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. UF is the only program to have won all eight of its SEC series in 2021.
The Gators (39-8, 18-5 SEC) picked up a complete-game gem from senior right-handed pitcher Natalie Lugo (14-2). Lugo’s complete-game shutout to defeat the Aggies (31-19, 8-15 SEC) was her second against an SEC opponent.
The West Covina, Calif. native went the distance for the fourth overall time this season and allowed only four hits and one walk, while she also dealt four strikeouts.
Lugo received support from the offense in the form of a trio of home runs from Charla Echols, Cheyenne Lindsey, and Hannah Adams.
Echols followed up her walk-off three-run home run with a two-run home run in the bottom of the 3rd inning to open the scoring. The Newnan, Ga. native drove home Kendyl Lindaman, who reached in the previous at-bat via a walk.
Florida went on to get insurance runs in the form of back-to-back solo homers from Lindsey and Adams with two outs in the bottom of the 6th inning.
The Gators and the Aggies will close out the series Sunday at 12 p.m. on the SEC Network. With one game remaining in SEC play, the Gators are in search of a share of the SEC Regular Season Championship, which would be the program’s ninth overall.