No. 9 Florida softball dropped its final SEC series of the year Saturday afternoon with a 9-1 run-rule loss to No. 13 Georgia.
The Gators (47-9, 17-7 SEC) went hitless the first time through the lineup against Randi Roelling, who pitched all five innings. Captain Jocelyn Erickson recorded Florida’s first hit and lone RBI with a third-inning double that scored Taylor Shumaker, who reached on a walk.
Keagan Rothrock (26-6) got the start for Florida in the regular-season finale. She opened with two straight three-up, three-down innings before allowing a hit to Keirstin Roose, a single down the left-field line that drove in Georgia’s first run.
Tied entering the fourth, the Gators couldn’t capitalize offensively despite back-to-back singles from Kenleigh Cahalan and Ava Brown.
Georgia (36-17, 12-12 SEC) broke the tie in the bottom half of the inning, as four Bulldogs crossed the plate on three hits against Rothrock. Two of those runs came on a home run by Emily Digby, the 24th homer Rothrock allowed this regular season.
Trailing by four, Florida was retired in order by Roelling in the fifth.
Rothrock then loaded the bases in the bottom half after allowing a walk and a single, along with an error by Cahalan. Gabi Novickas capitalized. On a 2-2 count, she sent a pitch to deep left field for a walk-off grand slam to end the game via run rule.
Both teams now await seeding for the SEC Tournament, which begins Tuesday in Lexington, Kentucky.
