GAINESVILLE, FL – The Alabama State softball team ventured through the program's first experience in the NCAA Softball Tournament, going head-to-head with the two-time National Champion Florida Gators in their ball park.
 
The Lady Hornets fought hard in spots, and played right with the heavily-favored No. 1 seeded Gators for the first two innings.
 
ASU ran into trouble in a nine-run third inning that included a pair of walks, a hit by pitch and a series of hits that were narrowly out of reach of ASU's gloves in the field as host Florida topped Alabama State 11-0 in five innings at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Friday afternoon. 
 
The Lady Hornets (28-26) will take on FAU, who dropped a tight 1-0 pitcher's duel to UCF earlier in the day, at 2:31 p.m. ET on Saturday.
 
The game will be shown on ESPN3 and can be picked up through the ESPN app. 
 
"We got out to a good start, but after a few innings we couldn't control the strike zone anymore and Florida took advantage of the opportunity," said ASU head softball coach Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson.
 
"They just put the ball in play and we didn't.  We didn't compete like I would have liked to. At times, we overthought what was going on and you can't do that at this level."
 
Maddie Phelps (18-11) started in the circle for ASU and worked around a couple of singles in the first inning and came away unscathed and then set the Gators down in order in the second on two grounders and a line out. 
 
The Lady Hornets picked up their only hit when freshman Charlene Castro chopped a single over third baseman Taylore Fuller's head. 
 
By the time shortstop Alex Voss picked it up, it was too late as Castro picked up an infield single against UF sophomore starter Aleshia Ocasio (21-1).
 
"She [Ocasio} had a lot of movement and put the ball low and in the zone all afternoon," Castro said.
 
"Combined with her speed, that threw us off and made it difficult to put the bats on the ball. "
 
Facing a different pitcher in freshman Kelly Barnhill, Castro earned a walk to go 1-for-1 on the day, reaching base both times. 
 
"We've seen film on Florida and knew that no matter who was in the circle, they were going to be talented," Castro added.
 
The Gators (54-5) will play UCF (37-20) on Saturday at Noon ET.

GO HORNETS