Softball America Advances Florida To Number 3 After Beating Top-Ranked Tennessee Twice

Thrilling Series For Gator Softball Pays Off As They Climb In Standings

By EDDIE GILLEY

GatorBaitMedia.com

When the number 1 team in the nation shows up in any sports, it’s a big moment. When they leave losing two out of three games, it’s a great weekend for the home team. Beating the unbeaten Vols twice to win the series advanced The Gators to number three nationally behind number one Texas number two Texas Tech. That put SEC teams in five of the top 6.

That’s the weekend that happened in Gainesville as the previous #8 Florida Gators took the final two games against the #1 Tennessee Lady Vols at a packed Katie Seashole Pressley Stadium.

In front of 2,455 fans, the Gators jumped out to a one-run lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning on a Kenleigh Cahalan home run off of the Vol starter Sage Mardjetko.

That lead would stand until the top of the fifth inning when the Vols got a double down the left field line by Ella Dodge to score Sophia Knight from second.

Alannah Leach followed with a single to score her sister Gabby Leach to take a 2-1 lead. Tennessee turned to their ace, Karlyn Pickens to save the game by going the final three innings in relief. She struck out five and gave up only one hit while walking 3 Gator batters. She was able to strike out the side after the Gators loaded the bases in the 6th and the Gators left runners on the corners in the seventh.

Rothrock picked up the loss giving up only the two earned runs in 6 innings of work and only 4 hits. She walked 5 and struck out five in the outing.

The ‘Hole was packed again on Saturday with the fourth largest home crowd on record with 2,635 fans. Olivia Miller picked up the win in relief allowing only two hits in 4.1 innings of work. She relieved starter Katelynn Oxley who went 2.2 innings giving up two hits and two earned runs.

The Vols jumped on top 2-0 in the second inning when Elsa Morrison took an Oxley change up over the left field wall with a runner on. The Gators scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the 2nd to tie the game. Ella Wesolowski scored on a wild pitch from Tennessee starter Erin Nuwer. Taylor Shumaker scored from second on an error made by the Vol infield on a Jocelyn Erickson ground ball to tie the game.

Vol Ace Pickens came into the game to start the third inning. She induced a fly out from Kendall Grover. Towsen Thomas got a swinging bunt single and moved to second when the throw from the catcher ended up in right field. Madison Walker followed with a laser beam home run that just cleared the fence in left center field to put the Gators on top 4-2.

Cassidy McLellan followed with a deep bomb to right field that chased Pickens and saw the return of the starter Nuwer. Neither team would score again and the Gators evened the series with a 5-2 victory.

After Keagan Rothrock was able to strand a two-out single in the first inning, Taylor Shumaker made a statement. She took a 2-1 fastball from Vol ace Karlyn Pickens and hit a towering home run to dead center field to give the Gators a 1-0 lead.

An old-fashioned pitching duel between Rothrock and Pickens continued until the 5th inning. Pickens walked the first two Gator batters. Gabbi Comia reached on a fielder’s choice that moved McLellan to third base while Wesolowski was out at second.

Following a Comia steal, the Vols set up to intentionally walk Shumaker. However, Pickens’ first pitch sailed wide of the catcher allowing McLellan to score and Comia to advance to third.

The Vols then decided to pitch to Shumaker who made them pay with a single up the middle to score Comia. That chased the starter Pickens who entered the series with a .062 era and only giving up 5 earned runs and 2 home runs. She left Gainesville with a 1.24 era and the totals are now 11 earned runs and 5 home runs.

The Vols scored two runs in the top of the 6th off Rothrock after a leadoff walk to the pinch hitter, when the umpire seemed to miss a third strike from the righty Gator.

With two outs, Gabby Leach, hit the right field foul pole for a two-runshot to cut the Gator lead to one. The top of the seventh began with a routine fly ball to left that McLellan lost in the sun resulting in a double to start the inning. Rothrock induced a ground ball to first base but moved the runner to third with one out. Rothrock was able to strike out the next batter to leave the equalizer 60 feet from home.

Maddi Rutan hit a line drive to right field but that’s where Taylor Shumaker plays and she made the easy catch to seal the victory for the Gators in front of 2,164 fans. The two wins move Rothrock to 17-2 on the year.

The crowds were awesome over the weekend. That fact was noticed by the Gator coaches and players.

Coach Tim Walton said, “Our crowd was awesome. I thought just the number of people and their ability to stay connected the whole weekend was awesome.”

Rothrock said, “That is why I chose to be here. The fan base that we have and the support that they show is insane. We kind of feed into them and feed off of them, in both ways. That’s why you choose to be a Gator.”

It was a series that lived up to the hype. Two outstanding teams went toe-to-toe and the Gators came out on top. To win the SEC you have to win your home series and win at least one game on the road.

Both teams accomplished that goal. But I bet if you ask the Vol players they don’t want to come back to Gainesville anytime soon.

One weekend of those crazy Gator softball fans is all any team wants to experience!