Florida scored seven runs on two hits in the opening frame of a 9-1, five-inning win over Florida Atlantic on Friday night at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. The Gators are now 2-0 in the tournament. Their game tomorrow against Nebraska will determine who wins the pool.

Freshman Kim Waleszonia (Fontana, Calif.) was hit by a Vanessa Suarez pitch to lead off the first inning. Senior Lindsey Cameron (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) followed with a base hit through the left side. Three straight walks gave the Gators a 2-0 lead. A sophomore Lacy Howard (League City, Texas) base hit to right scored junior Lauren Roussell (Cerritos, Calif.). A grand slam from freshman Brooke Johnson (Lakeland, Fla.) put Florida ahead 7-0. The home run was her first of the season.

Florida went ahead 8-0 in the third as Johnson scored on a Cameron double to center field.

Florida Atlantic scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the third frame. Lauren Crandall knocked a base hit up the middle with one out in the inning. After Florida junior pitcher Stacey Stevens (Gainesville, Fla.) caught Amy Bukovich looking, Mandie Fishback poked a base hit into left field. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. A Gator error allowed the run to score, narrowing Florida’s lead to seven runs at 8-1.

Florida scored one run in the top of the fifth as junior Shelley Stevens (Gainesville, Fla.) scored on an error by the FAU third baseman. The Gators held Florida Atlantic in the bottom of the fifth to end the game due to the eight-run rule.

Stacey Stevens struck out a season-high nine batters in the win to improve her record to 3-1 on the year.

Florida will face Nebraska at noon on Saturday. The winner will advance to the gold bracket and will play at 4:30 p.m.