May 10, 2007

AUBURN, Ala. - Stacey Nelson recorded her 11th shutout of the season and held fifth-seeded Mississippi State to just one hit to lead Florida to a 3-0 victory over the Bulldogs in the first round of the SEC Softball Tournament Thursday at Jane B. Moore Field. The fourth-seeded Gators will face the winner of eighth-seeded Ole Miss and top-seeded Tennessee Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT.

The win was Florida's first in the SEC Tournament since 2003 and its first ever over Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament.

Florida took a 1-0 lead in the third on a two-out single by Melissa Zick that scored Kim Waleszonia. Zick's single extended her school-record hitting streak to 15 games. Ali Gardiner led Florida with two hits.

The Gators added another run on a solo shot by Lauren Roussell in the fifth and closed out the scoring with a run in the sixth.

Nelson's 11th shutout and 35th complete game of the season is a Florida sophomore record. She allowed just two Mississippi State baserunners in earning her 29th win of the season.

The Bulldogs' lone hit came on a leadoff single by Chelsea Bramlett in the fourth.

Kelli Miller took the loss for Mississippi State, allowing one run and four hits in four innings.