No. 5 Florida Softball Sweeps Kentucky

Get the brooms out … again.

No. 5/8 Florida softball (29-1) completed its second straight SEC series sweep against the Kentucky Wildcats (19-9). The Gators shut out the Wildcats 9-0 in six innings Sunday afternoon at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.

Florida ace Keagan Rothrock, who got her 16th start in the circle for the Gators, earned her ninth complete game as she gave up just three hits and two walks. Rothrock was dealing on Sunday, only throwing 92 pitches and facing 23 batters in all six innings.

On offense, the Gators wasted no time in the first, scoring five runs off five hits.

Taylor Shumaker led off with a solo home run to center field, her 12th of the season. Florida then loaded the bases for Townsen Thomas, who hit a two-RBI double. All three baserunners attempted to score on Thomas’ hit, but Madison Walker was called out at home. The out call was challenged by head coach Tim Walton, but was confirmed by the umpire crew.

After pitching a clean top of the second, Kentucky pitcher Sarah Haendiges gave up three hits in the third, including a bases-loaded single off the bat of Ella Wesolowski which brought in a run for the Gators. 

Captain Jocelyn Erickson sealed the victory in the sixth with a three-run homer. Erickson’s 16 long balls leads the team and set a new single-season high for the catcher. 

 Kentucky batters hit 1-for-7 with runners on compared to the Gators who hit 8-for-13. This was the 80th all-time matchup between the conference foes, Florida leads the head-to-head record 63-17 and is on a seven-game win streak.

The Gators return home next weekend to play a three-game series against the No. 1 Tennessee Lady Volunteers (26-1). 

Category: Gator Sports, Gators Softball