Florida Softball Falls to Rival FSU in Top-10 Clash

TALLAHASSEE — One of the fiercest rivalries in college sports delivered again.

Isa Torres and No. 10 FSU got the best of No. 5 Florida, 3-1, in a heated top-10 matchup at Joanne Graf Field.

Keagan Rothrock made her first midweek start of the season on the road in Wednesday’s rivalry showdown. The junior didn’t have her sharpest outing, as FSU’s aggressive hitting pushed her to 3 1/3 innings on six hits and three runs.

With the crowd buzzing early, Taylor Shumaker briefly silenced it. The sophomore blasted the second pitch she saw to right-center field for her 15th homer of the season to give the Gators a 1-0 lead.

Torres answered immediately, bringing the crowd back to its feet. The junior, batting a nation-leading .589, launched a leadoff solo homer to tie the game. Still, Rothrock and the Gators settled in and retired the next three batters in order.

Florida (43-7, 16-5 SEC) kept the pressure on in the third, loading the bases with one out. But with the stadium at its loudest, Ava Brown couldn’t capitalize, grounding into an inning-ending double play.

From there, it was all Florida State (40-7, 15-3 ACC).

The Gators saw déjà vu in the bottom of the third as Torres went yard again for her second homer of the game, before Rothrock retired the next three hitters.

Shelby McKenzie extended the Seminoles’ lead in the fourth, driving in Kennedy Harp with an RBI single. McKenzie moved to second on the throw, and that marked the end of Rothrock’s day as Olivia Miller took over in the circle.

Ashtyn Danley, who started in left field, entered the circle in the fourth and shut down Florida the rest of the way. Danley (9-1) allowed just two hits, no runs and struck out two, effectively icing the Gators’ bats.

Florida got one last chance in the seventh with the top of the order due up, but the Seminoles had the final say. Behind Danley and a strong defensive effort, FSU retired the side in order to secure the win.

Both teams will meet again Tuesday. Before that, the Gators return to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium to face face No. 21 UCF on Friday at 6 p.m.

Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Softball