The No. 19 Florida Softball team (1-3) picked up its first win of the 2006 season on Saturday evening as it defeated Houston (0-1) 6-2 in the Wilson/DeMarini Invitational in Houston, Texas. Despite being out hit 7-11, the Gators were able to take advantage of offensive opportunities and played heads up defense to get the win.

Florida got an early start putting runs on the board against Houston. With one out in the top of the first, junior Shelley Stevens (Gainesville, Fla.) drew a walk. Senior Kristen Butler (Orlando, Fla.) hit a base hit through the left side and advanced to second on the throw as Houston prevented Stevens from scoring. Stevens and Butler both came around to put the Gators ahead up 2-0 two batters later as senior Mirelis Torres (Tampa, Fla.) drove a double to center.

The Gators added another run in the top of the third as Butler hit a home run out in centerfield, giving Florida the 3-0 lead.

Houston scored a run on two Gator errors in the bottom of the third to narrow the Gator lead to two runs at 3-1.

The Cougars added another run in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Christa Raley hit a base hit through the left side. She scored on a double deep into center by Laura Durham.

Florida took a two run lead again in the top of the sixth frame. Senior Lindsay Norfleet (Madison, Fla.) reached base on an error by the Cougar shortstop. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Kim Waleszonia (Fontana, Calif.). Senior Stacie Pestrak (Gainesville, Fla.) and freshman Brooke Johnson (Lakeland, Fla) drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Senior Lindsey Cameron (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) hit a sacrifice fly deep into center to allow Norfleet to score and put the Gators up 4-2.

Butler hit a lead off home run in the top of the seventh to give Florida a 5-2 lead. With the homer, Butler becomes the only Gator in school history to hit two homers in a game three times in her career.

Freshman Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.) picked up the first collegiate win of her career to improve her record to 1-1. Freshman Lindsay Littlejohn (Bartow, Fla.) came in the game in relief at the bottom of the sixth to earn the first save of her career.

Butler led the Gators offensively. She was 3-for-4 on the day with two home runs, three runs scored and two RBI. 

“It is good to be rewarded for our team’s hard work.” Head coach Tim Walton said.

The Gators will play their final game in the Wilson/DeMarini Invitational Sunday at 2 p.m. ET against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.