Florida pitcher Stacey Nelson tied her career-high with 12 strikeouts and the #7 Gators used a four-run fourth inning to pull away in a 5-0 victory over Hofstra at Pressly Softball Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The loss drops Hofstra's record to 3-2 this season, with both losses to teams ranked in the top seven in the nation (#4 Tennessee).  Florida, meanwhile, improves to 14-0 and is off to the best start in school history.

With the game still scoreless, Hofstra threatened in the top half of the third as second baseman Casey Fee singled and then stole second.  Center fielder Erika Bernstein would reach base next, courtesy of an error by the third baseman, with Fee moving to third on the play.  The Pride looked poised to tally the game's first run, but Fee was picked off third and after shortstop Pam Dreslinski struck out, Bernstein was thrown out at the plate attempting to steal.

Florida would finally break the ice in the contest in the bottom of the fourth as left fielder Francesca Enea led off the inning with a homerun to right center and two Pride errors in the inning would help lead to three more Gator runs as UF took a 4-0 lead into the fifth inning.

The Gators would add another run in the fifth after Nelson picked up two more strikeouts in the top half of the inning.  With Florida holding a 5-0 advantage heading into the seventh inning, pinch hitter Laura Valentino (pictured) led off the inning with her first collegiate hit, but any thoughts of a Pride comeback were erased as the Gators used a 5-4-3 double play on the next batter and right fielder Laura Jaxheimer grounded out to second to end the game.

Nelson went the distance in picking up her seventh win of the season, while Hofstra pitcher Kayleigh Lotti took the loss to fall to 1-2 this season.

Left fielder Kris Root and first baseman Michele DePasquale also had hits for the Pride, who had a total of four in the contest.  Hofstra also stole three bases in the game, with Bernstein, Root and Fee each picking up one.

Enea batted 2-2 with an RBI and a run scored in the game, while center fielder Kim Waleszonia also had a pair of hits for the Gators.

Hofstra returns to action on Friday when they open play in the Louisville Slugger Invitational against Georgia Tech at 11:30 a.m.  The Pride will also face the host South Florida Bulls on Friday at 4 p.m.

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