How Florida Softball’s Tennesee Win Predicts Post Season Success

No. 5/8 Florida Softball is in a prime position for a postseason run after winning a pivotal weekend series against then-No. 1 Tennessee.

It’s Florida’s first series victory against Tennessee since 2017, when the Gators made it all the way to the Women’s College World Series final.

The Gators won the last two games of the series after dropping the first. Taylor Shumaker played a key role in the series, going 5-for-10 with a leadoff home run in the final game. As for the pitching, Keagan Rothrock started the first and final games, notching a win in the finale with a complete game.

The Lady Vols were undefeated until a loss against Mississippi State on March 14th. Beating Tennessee marks a possible turning point for Florida, as its 2017 series win against the Lady Vols was a key point in the Gators’ postseason run that year.

The Gators are looking to win their first WCWS since 2014. Last appearing in that 2017 season against Oklahoma, a heartbreaking 17-inning defeat in the first game led to a series loss and a runner-up finish.

In 2017, the Gators outscored the Lady Vols 15-5 in late April. While the teams were more evenly matched this year, it shows that this Gators team can compete with anyone.

Through Sunday’s games, the Gators have scored the fourth most runs in NCAA softball and have the tenth lowest Earned Run Average. Rothrock leads the team at 100 ⅔ innings pitched with an ERA of 2.23. Shumaker leads the team in hits at 56, hitting .496 on the season.

However, Florida is still awaiting the return of its co-captain, Ava Brown. Brown, a two-way player, had five home runs in 40 at-bats as a hitter, while also pitching to a 0.49 ERA in 28 ⅓ innings. Hurting her lower leg during a play at first base, there is currently no timetable for return, but the Gators hope to see her back later in the season.

With Brown’s injury, Rothrock has had to handle lots of innings, an assignment that she’s fared well in. If Brown can return and pitch well, it makes the Gators’ pitching primed for a run in the postseason.

The Gators will face Stetson in a midweek matchup on Wednesday night before traveling to Arkansas for a weekend series against the Razorbacks. First pitch against Stetson is at 6 p.m.

Category: College Softball, Gators Softball, Softball