Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
TAMPA – The No.7-ranked Florida Gators earned a 4-1 opening day victory over Illinois State Friday night at the USF Softball Stadium. UF now holds a 23-1 record in season openers and a 32-5 record in games during the opening weekend.
Junior Natalie Lugo (1-0) reeled off 11 strikeouts in the effort – which is the fourth time of her career with 10 or more in a single game.
Down 1-0 after the 1st inning, the Gators (1-0) used a four-run bottom of the 2nd rally to erase the early deficit that the Redbirds (1-2) had established.