Gators Softball Falls One Spot in Rankings Despite 3-1 Week

It was business as usual for Florida softball this week, dominating Stetson 8-2 in a midweek matchup and defeating a ranked Mississippi State team over the weekend.

However, the Gators dropped one spot to No. 8 in the latest Softball America Top-25 rankings released Monday despite a 3-1 week. The Gators faced the Bulldogs in a weekend series, and managed to come out on top twice to cement themselves in the SEC standings.

Florida came out swinging at the start of the series, winning the opener 2-0 on Friday night. Senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan hit a two-run home run to secure the only scores of the night. Junior pitcher Keagan Rothrock threw her second complete-game shutout in SEC play,  allowing five hits while logging four strikeouts across seven innings. 

The Gators dropped the second game, falling short 9-5, marking  just their second loss at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Florida picked it back up in the series finale, with a 5-4 walk-off victory over Mississippi State thanks to a fielder’s choice RBI in the seventh from redshirt freshman Townsen Thomas. The third game also marked junior Ava Brown’s first start following a leg injury.

The Gators are the fifth-highest ranked SEC team in the Top 25, sitting under No. 1 Alabama, No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 4 Texas and No. 7 Arkansas. 

Florida will pick up where they left off in Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Wednesday against South Florida at 7 p.m.

Category: Gators Softball