Florida infielder Kenleigh Cahalan celebrates after reaching second base against the North Florida Ospreys on Feb. 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. [Matthew Lewis/WRUF]

Cahalan Powers No. 4 Florida Softball to Series-Opening Win

Entering the last home SEC series of the season, seniors are the highlight of the weekend and Kenleigh Cahalan made sure to make her mark in Friday’s opener at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

No. 4 Florida got the series opening 9-1 run-rule victory against Auburn, as Cahalan racked up four RBIs.

Florida ace Keagan Rothrock (22-4) rode the high of being NFCA, SEC and Softball America Pitcher of the Week into the matchup against the Tigers. The junior pitched her 15th complete game of the season and allowed four hits, one run with four strikeouts in five innings.

Auburn (23-20, 2-14 SEC) wasted no time when Haven Roebuck scored a run with a triple into deep center field that Taylor Shumaker and Cassidy McLellan could not grab, making it 1-0.

The Gators got out to an unusually slow start, not being able to get any offense going as they went down in order in the second. That was until the third inning rolled around.

Florida (42-5, 15-4) loaded the bases on singles by Shumaker and Jocelyn Erickson. Cahalan knew she had to capitalize with the bases full and no outs. The senior hit a two-RBI single. Townsen Thomas added an RBI of her own with a ball that got past the shortstop Alyssa Hastings and Ava Brown got the last RBI of the inning as she grounded out to make it 4-1.

The Gators bats stayed hot going into the fourth when Erickson and Gabi Comia found themselves in scoring position with Cahalan up. Cahalan continued to do what she does best to rack up two more RBIs with a single to make it 6-1.

Cahalan’s multi-RBI night marked her 17th of the season and her highest in SEC play.

Since she came back from an undisclosed lower leg injury, Brown has not been at her best, that all changed in the fifth inning. The junior crushed the first pitch she saw for a solo homer, her first since Feb. 21, made it 7-1.

Florida walked it off in the fifth inning in unusual style. Comia hit a ball deep into center field that scored Cassidy McLellan and Ella Wesolowski made her way home on a throwing error.

This was the Gators fourth SEC run-rule and their first at home since April 18, 2025.

Florida looks to capture the series against the Tigers on senior day Saturday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. (SEC Network+).

Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Softball