No. 7 Florida Softball Follows Keagan Rothrock Gem With Rout

Following Keagan Rothrock’s no-hitter Friday night, the Florida offense made sure it had its moment Saturday afternoon in Columbia, South Carolina.

No. 7 Florida beat South Carolina 15-2 in run-rule fashion, securing its fifth SEC series win of the season.

Katelynn Oxley started in the circle for the Gators, allowing two runs on two hits over two innings.

South Carolina struck first, as Tori Ensley led off with a solo home run and Quincee Lilio added an RBI double in the second inning to give the Gamecocks a 2-0 lead.

Trailing early, Florida responded with a six-run third inning, recording six hits and batting around the order to take control of the game.

Jocelyn Erickson sparked the rally with her team-leading 18th home run, the first of four three-run homers for the Gators. Townsen Thomas and Ava Brown reached base before Cassidy McLellan followed with a three-run homer of her own, giving Florida a 6-2 lead.

The Gators continued to build on the momentum in the fourth. Erickson hit her second home run of the day, the 49th of her career to pass Reagan Walsh for fifth-most in program history.

Florida’s power surge continued in the fifth inning. Kenleigh Cahalan hit the team’s fourth three-run home run, driving in Taylor Shumaker and Erickson, who reached on a single and a double.

McLellan added to the scoring with a bases-loaded single, and Ella Wesoloski followed with a fielder’s choice to extend the lead to 15-2.

Olivia Miller entered in relief and allowed a leadoff single in the fifth before retiring the next three batters to secure her sixth win of the season.

Florida set SEC season highs in hits (16) and runs in the victory.

The teams will meet again for the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.

Category: Feature Sports News, Gator Sports, Gators Softball