Jocelyn Erickson, Keagan Rothrock Lead Florida in SEC Opener vs. Missouri

With Ava Brown still sidelined due to a lower-body injury, Jocelyn Erickson delivered in the absence of her fellow captain.

The Gators (24-1) pulled off the 5-4 victory against the Missouri Tigers (7-14) in the SEC opener at Katie Seashole Pressley Stadium as Erickson sealed the win with her team-leading 12th homer, a go-ahead two-run shot in the sixth inning.

Keagan Rothrock (12-1) pitched her sixth complete game in Saturday’s win, tossing 10 strikeouts against her conference foe – the most strikeouts she has ever thrown against an SEC opponent, with her previous record coming when she threw seven against Georgia last May in the Super Regionals. 

After almost two scoreless innings for both teams, Ella Wesolowski got the scoring started for the Gators with a two-out solo homer to left field. 

The Tigers responded by loading the bases in the third after Rothrock gave up a hit by pitch, a single and a walk. Missouri took a 2-1 lead when first baseman Abby Hay hit a two-RBI double to right center. The Gators loaded the bases in the third as well, but Madison Walker hit a foul pop out to leave the runners stranded. 

The Tigers took a 3-1 lead as shortstop Madison Uptegrove hit a solo shot to left, but their lead didn’t last for long. Townsen Thomas tied the game at 3-3 with her second home run of the season in the fourth inning, an opposite-field two-run long ball, before Erickson’s homer gave Florida the lead for good two frames later. 

The Gators return home Sunday against Missouri for Game 2 of the three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Category: Feature Sports News, Gators Softball