This Week In Gator Softball Is Bigger Than Most Of Them

Townsen Thomas (44) Named Freshman Of The Week (UAA Photo)

Gators host the #1 ranked Lady Vols in a three-game series.

Every weekend in SEC softball is important, but this is a big weekend for Gator softball. Coming off a sweep of Kentucky on the road, the Gators will host the #1 ranked Lady Vols in a three-game series starting on Friday night. 

It’s not a win-or-the-season-is-lost series, but if Florida can win the series it sets them up to be in the front row position to win the conference championship. 

The Gators not only swept the Cats in Lexington but did so in run-rule fashion in every game. Jocelyn Erickson led the way on offense hitting a home run in each game to extend her team leading HR total to 16, which is also a new single season record for her. 

Freshman Townsen Thomas may have had the best weekend going 6-9 over the series and picking up Freshmen of the Week honors for the effort. 

In the circle, Keagan Rothrock picked up wins in games one and three to move to 16-1 for the season. Sophomore Katelynn Oxley had a stellar performance in game two to pick up the win. She threw a complete game shutout to move to 2-0. She struck out 7 and only allowed two hits. Florida will need her along with the rest of the staff to contribute in the Saturday games until the normal Saturday starter, Ava Brown, can return from being injured.

Tennessee is coming off a tough weekend in Starkville against a surprising Bulldog team that handed them their first loss of the season on Saturday. 

The Vols were pushed to extra innings on Friday night before winning the game 3-1 in 9 innings. They won the series on Sunday with a 4-1 victory. The usually potent offensive lineup was handled pretty well in the series. The Vols pitching continues to be outstanding.

Ella Dodge and Makenzie Butt are tied for the lead in HRs with 7 each for the Lady Vols. Sophia Knight leads the team with a .467 batting average followed by Dodge at .366 with a team leading 57 RBI. Gabby Leach and Butt are also hitting above .300. As a team they hit .319 and have 36 Home Runs in their 28 games. 

Karlyn Pickens leads them in the circle. She has a 7-0 record with a .65 era and 1 save. 

The Vol staff is pretty balancedthough. Sage Mardjetko is 6-0 in 8 starts with a .83 era. The pitcher most often used appears to be Erin Nuwer. She has appeared in 15 games with 8 starts and 3 saves to go along with an 11-1 record. Nuwer has also started 8 games. All three of them are averaging over 1 strikeout an inning. 

The Gators will have their hands full this weekend. They will need to continue doing what they have so far. 

Taylor Shumaker will need to keep setting the pace from the lead-off position. Erickson and Kenleigh Cahalan will need to keep driving in runs. Thomas and Gabbi Comia will need to keep getting on base. The rest of the lineup will need to contribute timely hits to drive in runs as well. Rothrock will need to be strong in the circle in games 1 and 3. Oxley, Leah Stevens, and Olivia Miller will need to provide some quality innings in game 2 and if needed in relief of Rothrock. The crowd needs to be extra rowdy this weekend. They may just be the difference between winning and losing the series. 

A packed and loud Katie Seashole Pressley stadium is an intimidating place to play softball. Time will tell if it’s enough to help the Gators upset the #1 team in the land this weekend.