TAMPA – Bethune-Cookman concluded the USF-Rawlings Invitational Sunday afternoon with a 16-0 loss at the hands of the No. 17 Florida Gators inside USF Softball Stadium on the campus of South Florida.
 
No. 17 Florida (3-0) plated two early runs in the top of the first inning.
 
After registering a single at the top of the order, Kendra Falby scored on a Korbe Otis RBI knock up the middle for the game's opening run. Skylar Wallace immediately followed with an RBI single of her own to plate Otis from second.
 
Bethune-Cookman (1-4) was unable to get the offense going in the game as the Cats were held without a hit on the afternoon by UF starting pitcher Olivia Miller.
 
The Gators added three runs extending the lead to 5-0 in the top of the third.
 
Falby drove in shortstop Mia Williams with a two-out infield single to shortstop after the Gators centerfielder walked in her earlier at-bat. With Falby swiping second to work her way into scoring position, Otis collected an RBI single past the glove of Kendall Macauley at short for the 4-0 Florida advantage.
 
Otis would later steal home in making it 5-0.
 
In the third inning Florida plated three additional runs.
 
With the bases loaded and one out, Gators second baseman Reagan Walsh scored courtesy a walk issued to Cassidy McLellan. A fielding error charged to the Wildcats infield ensued that saw both Avery Goelz and Ariel Kowalewski score unearned and stretch the Florida lead at 8-0.
 
The Gators would create the final 16-0 score line with eight runs scored in the fourth inning.
 
The Bethune-Cookman bullpen saw quality time in the game with Angelina Badalament, Ajah Mallary and Alyssa Lopez each seeing action in the pitcher's circle.
 
Florida's Miller collected the win for her first victory of the season. She tossed five complete frames with five strikeouts and no walks allowed in the no-hit affair. The loss went to BCU junior Halyne Gonzalez (1-3) in pitching two innings and giving up five runs on six hits, one walk and two strikeouts.
 
The Gators used Falby's 3-for-3 day at the dish to lead the offensive production, as she also scored three runs and drove in one. Otis and Wallace were joined by Goelz and Jocelyn Erickson with two hits apiece.
 
The Wildcats are back in action Friday, Feb. 16, when traveling across Volusia County to DeLand to face Creighton and Colgate, respectfully, as part of the Hatter Classic hosted by Stetson. First pitch against Creighton is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.
 
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