0-for-3 on the night, tie game in the seventh inning, Jocelyn Erickson steps up to bat Thursday.
With Gabi Comia at first, Erickson lines her only hit of the game into center field, just getting over the center fielder to give the Gators the lead.
A clutch hit by the veteran propelled No. 9 Florida past rivals No. 13 Georgia for a 5-3 series-opening win at Jack Turner Softball Stadium in Athens, Ga.
After pitching 3.2 innings against FSU and getting the win Tuesday, Keagan Rothrock got the start in the circle for Florida (47-7, 17-5 SEC).
Besides allowing two homers, Rothrock (26-5) continued to dominate, pitching her 16th complete game of the season, allowing three hits, one walk with five strikeouts.
Throughout the first two innings, it was a pitching duel between Rothrock and Randi Roelling as both pitchers racked up strikeouts.
In the third, Georgia (34-17, 10-12 SEC) took the lead with just one swing as Jaydyn Goodwin took a Rothrock pitch deep to right field, the solo homer gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
Florida answered in the fourth with a two-out rally behind Townsen Thomas and Ava Brown. Thomas, who was recently featured in Sportcenter’s Top 10 for her game-winning catch vs. FSU, blasted her fifth home run of the season to left center.
Kenleigh Cahalan drew a walk in the next at-bat to bring up Brown. The junior took advantage of the runner on base and hit her eighth homer of the season to left center to put Florida up3-1.
The Bulldogs went on to bite back in the bottom half of the inning in the same way they took the lead earlier in the game. Following a leadoff walk, Keristin Roose hit a two-run homer deep into center field to tie the game at 3-3.
Both pitchers didn’t take allowing two homers lightly and recovered, Rothrock had help as her infield turned its 21st double play of the season to shut down Georgia.
In the seventh, Florida made sure to not give Georgia any chance to come back. Comia singled to the shortstop, beating out the ball to first. Erickson, who has been in a slump, made sure to show her expertise as her RBI double gave the Gators the lead.
Kendall Grover delivered the dagger in the next at-bat, as she singled down the left field line and scored Erickson, who barely beat the tag at home.
Clutch hitting by both seniors allowed Rothrock to do her thing in the seventh and put the Bulldogs away in Game 1.
The teams are back in action Friday when Florida looks to secure the series. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on SEC Network+. The series finale is set for Saturday at noon on ESPN.
