No. 8 Florida Softball Walks Off No. 17 Alabama to Take Series

Behind the arm of Keagan Rothrock, the No. 8 Florida softball team took the series against No. 17 Alabama with a 4-3 walk-off win on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

It marks the Gators’ second straight conference series win after last weekend’s against No. 19 Ole Miss and their first SEC series win at home this season.

Rothrock’s Revenge

A slow start was not in the cards for Keagan Rothrock on Saturday. After giving up seven runs in the first inning in Game  on Thursday, the sophomore looked like a new pitcher in the circle. She struck out the side in a dominant first inning.

The second inning was more of the same. Rothrock struck out two and retired three straight to keep the Crimson Tide off the bases.

She had a three-up, three-down inning in the third, recording two more strikeouts to bring her total to seven. It was safe to say that Rothrock was back in form.

Offensive Standstill

Neither team got much going in the first two innings. In the third, Florida (39-10, 11-7 SEC) gave Alabama (31-18, 8-10) a scare, putting runners on the corners with Jocelyn Erickson at the plate. But, Erickson never got a chance to bring one in. Taylor Shumaker was caught trying to steal second to end the inning and the Gators threat.

Luckily for Florida, Rothrock wasn’t done yet. In the fourth, she forced two straight pop outs before allowing a single up the middle, Alabama’s first hit of the day. She calmly fielded the next batter’s grounder to end the inning with no blood shed.

The Gators’ offense again got a little something going in the fourth. With one out, Korbe Otis reached on an error and moved over to second on a Reagan Walsh single. Mia Williams moved Otis to third on a fielder’s choice that caught Walsh at second. Kenleigh Cahalan stepped up with an opportunity to bring in the first run of the game. She grounded out to second to end the Gators’ hopes of taking the lead.

Crimson Tidal Wave

Rothrock continued to carry Florida in the fifth. She sat down another three straight batters to quickly end the first half of the inning. And, much like before, Florida’s bats just couldn’t get going.

Alabama pitcher Jocelyn Briski matched Rothrock with her own three-up, three-down inning. She forced a groundout and flyout to start. Briski’s defense helped her get out number three with outfielder Lauren Johnson making a diving grab to wrap up the inning.

Rothrock gave up her second hit of the game with two outs in the sixth, a single to left field. With senior Kali Heivilin at the plate, outfielder Larissa Preuitt stole second. Heivilin took advantage, doubling up the right field line to score Preuitt for the first run of the game. Rothrock forced a fly out for out number three, but the damage had already been done. The Crimson Tide had taken the lead.

Gators Get Up and Go

Shumaker quickly answered the Crimson Tide’s score, leading off the sixth with a double down the left field line. She advanced to third on a passed ball just one pitch later. Erickson brought her home on a groundout to second to tie the game.

After an Otis ground out, Walsh singled to left field. Brooke Barnard, pinch running for Walsh, advanced to second on a past ball to move into a scoring position. With a chance to be the hero, Mia Williams stepped up to the plate and capitalized by doubling to center field to score Barnard and give the Gators the one-run lead.

Alabama intentionally walked Cahalan to put runners on first and second. Ava Brown entered the game, pinch hitting for Gabi Comia. She grounded out to second to end the inning. Heading into the seventh, the Gators now had the lead.

Down to the Wire

Alabama opened the seventh with a single to center field. After a fly out, the runner stole second. Catcher Riley Valentine hit a slow roller for an infield single to move the runner over to third. With just one out and a one-run lead, Rothrock and the Gators found themselves with runners on the corners.

Alabama shortstop Salen Hawkins hit a sacrifice fly to right field to tie the game. Lauren Johnson dropped a hit in front of Kendra Falby in center field for a single that scored Valentine to retake the lead.

Despite her earlier heroics, coach Tim Walton had to pull Rothrock in favor of freshman Katelynn Oxley, (7-4) who promptly struck out the next batter to get the Gators out of the inning. Down by a run, Florida now had just three outs to make something happen.

Rylee Holtorf walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Alabama responded by pulling Briski off the mound in favor of senior Catelyn Riley, who forced Falby to put the ball on the ground which allowed her fielders to get the lead runner at second.

Shumaker singled up the middle to move Falby to third to put runners on the corners with one out. Erickson hit a little grounder to the first baseman, who opted to throw to second. Shumaker slid in safe at second while Falby ran home from third to tie the game at three runs each. With Otis up to bat, Shumaker stood on second while Erickson was at first.

Otis singled up the middle to score Shumaker and walking off the game.

A Golden Gator

Otis was awarded an Athletes Unlimited Softball League golden ticket following the game, marking her selection to the league next season. Between a walk-off hit and a spot in the AUSL draft, Saturday was a good day for Otis.

A ✨golden gator✨ moment for @korbeotis!

The @GatorsSB outfielder receives the fourth golden ticket to be drafted to the #AUSL! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/jS8uylKkZD

— AUSL (@theAUSLofficial) April 19, 2025

What’s Next?

Florida stays home for a game against USF on Wednesday before heading to Baton Rouge for a weekend series against LSU. Wednesday’s game starts at 6 p.m. and will be available to watch on SEC Network+.