Florida Softball Smashes Florida A&M to Open NCAA Gainesville Regional
Coach Tim Walton wanted Florida’s offense to mash in the NCAA Gainesville Regional opener and they delivered Friday against Florida A&M.
The Gators one-hit and run-ruled the Rattlers 12-0 in five innings while recording 12 hits and combining for six strikeouts. Florida now awaits the winner of Georgia Tech vs. Texas State to see who they will face Saturday at 10 a.m.
“It was a good way to kick off the tournament and we hope to take the energy into the rest of the tournament,” Jocelyn Erickson said.
Leadoff hitter Taylor Shumaker headed Florida’s offense with five RBIs and a moonshot over the right fence, delivering Florida’s 100th home run for a third straight year.
“That’s a cool number,” Shumaker said, “but at the end of the day we have to have good at-bats and find ways to manufacture runs in any case scenario.”
Florida junior Keagan Rothrock set the tone early in the circle, recording two strikeouts on the first three batters she faced before the offense provided support.
The Gators’ batters were quick to jump out to an early lead in the first inning. After Erickson recorded her 16th double of the season on a full count, Kenleigh Cahalan scored Erickson on an RBI ground-rule double.
Shumaker continued her dominance at the plate this season in the second inning, hitting an RBI single to left-center field, putting Florida up 2-0 with no outs. Ava Brown followed up with a two-run double and Thomas hit an RBI sac-fly to left field to extend the Gators’ lead to 5-0.
Rothrock hit Samantha Smith, the leadoff hitter of the third, to give the Rattlers their first baserunner of the game but Florida’s ace quickly regained her composure in the circle, recording two consecutive strikeouts to shut down any potential threat.
Hughes, who struggled finding the zone all day, was pulled from the circle after throwing her fourth walk. The Rattlers hoped to change to pace with pitcher Sariah Espada, but the Gators’ offensive onslaught continued.
Shumaker’s second RBI single of the day put Florida up 6-0. With the defense rattled, Florida capitalized as Comia stole home and Shumaker took third base before scoring on Brown’s throwing error.
After Rothrock pitched three scoreless innings, Katelynn “Red” Oxley entered the circle for the Gators. The junior ended the game with six strikeouts in three innings while allowing no hits.
Oxley followed Rothrock’s tone with another scoreless inning but miscommunication in the outfield allowed Rattlers second baseman Amya Ramos to notch FAMU’s lone hit of the game.
Florida stayed hot in the fourth inning as Shumaker homered for her 17th of the season, putting the Gators up 11-0.
Thomas made it 12-0 with an RBI-single to score Erickson, who had run home three times today.
With the ability to run-rule and get some extra rest, pitcher Leah Stevens entered the game for the fifth to seal the victory.Florida’s pitching staff allowed just one hit and one walk through five innings.
“I thought they really did a good job, with the exception of maybe the walk, that everything was really pretty laser focused,” Walton said.
Category: Feature Sports News, Gators Softball
