Late Offensive Surge Powers No. 12 Florida Past No. 11 Georgia to Clinch Series - Florida Gators (2024)

Maura Schaeffer

• Box Score

Game Recap: Softball | Sunday, April 28, 2024 | Herb Brooks

ATHENS, Ga. – The 12^th-ranked Florida softball team claimed its sixth Southeastern Conference series of the season with a, 10-7, victory over No. 11 Georgia on a partly cloudy Sunday afternoon at Jack Turner Stadium.

The Gators (39-12, 14-7 SEC) railed from a 4-1 deficit with nine runs combined in the sixth and seventh innings for the win over the Bulldogs (37-13, 11-10 SEC). The big inning came in the top of the seventh where the Orange & Blue retook the lead with seven runs on four hits, including Jocelyn Erickson's go ahead three-run home run.

UF took the initial lead, 1-0, in the series finale against UGA in the top of the second inning when freshman Ava Brown launched a solo home run over the left field wall off starting pitcher Lilli Backes.

Freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock (20-6) held the Georgia offense scoreless for 3 1/3 innings and limited their offense just to a pair of hits. However, UGA's third hit of the game came with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning and the solo home run to left field from Sara Mosley tied the game 1-1.

Georgia went on to take the lead, 4-1, in the following bottom of the fifth inning. The frame was started by a leadoff home run catcher Sarah Gordon as she sent the first pitch over the left field wall. The rally continued after a walk to pinch-hitter Lyndi Rae Davis and a bunt single by Dallis Goodnight put two runners on base for Jayda Kearney's two-RBI double to left center field.

The Gators fought back in the top of the sixth inning. Skylar Wallace and Jocelyn Erickson drew back-to-back walks to start the frame and Reagan Walsh loaded the bases in the next at-bat with a line drive single to left. The situation prompted pitching change for the Bulldogs as they brought in Shelby Walters (8-6) to relieve Backes. Brown drove in her second run of the game when she lifted a SAC fly to right field that scored Wallace and Kowalewski drove in Erickson on a SAC fly to left that cut into the Bulldogs lead 4-3.

Down to its final three outs, Florida continued to fight at the plate in the top of the seventh inning. Kendra Falby reached via a single through the left side of the infield, which was followed by a fielder's choice and throwing error that allowed Otis and Falby stand on first and second with one out. The duo then stole second and third to put the go-ahead run into scoring position.

With two outs on the board and a full-count at the plate, Erickson launched her 10^th home run of the season over the right field wall to give UF the lead 6-4. Walsh followed up with her 16^th home run of the season in the ensuing at-bat to stretch the lead out to 7-4.

The rally continued after Georgia brought in Destin Howard in relief of Walters as Brown, Kowalewski and Mia Williams recorded back-to-back-to-back walks. With the bases loaded, Katie Kistler laced a three RBI triple down the right field line to push the lead out to 10-4.

Georgia didn't go away easily as the clawed back to close down the lead to 10-7 on a three-run home run.

Florida will stay on the road as its next game will take the team to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on No. 16 Florida State this upcoming Wednesday, May 1, at 7 p.m. ET at JoAnne Graf Field.

Notables:

• Keagan Rothrock notched the 20^th win of the season and is now tied 2^nd all-time among UF freshmen in the category along with Stephanie Brombacher (2008).
  • Rothrock is the first UF pitcher to record 20 wins in a season since Kelly Barnhill (34-14) in 2019.
• Ava Brown collected her 12^th home run of the season with a solo shot over the left field wall in the top of the second inning.
  • She now ranks fifth all-time among UF freshmen in home runs.
    • 1^st – Brittany Schutte – 19 – 2010
    • 2^nd – Cheyenne Coyle – 17 – 2011
    • 3^rd – Lauren Haeger – 14 – 2012
    • 4^th – Megan Bush – 13 – 2008
    • 5^th – Ava Brown – 12 – 2024
• Korbe Otis extended her hit-streak and reached base safely streak out to 11 games with a double in the top of the first inning.
• Ariel Kowalewski picked up a single in the top of the fourth inning, which extended her hit-streak out to five games. The streak ties her longest hit streak of the season.
• Reagan Walsh singled to left in the top of the sixth inning to extend her reached base safely streak to 18 games and her hit streak out to eight games.
  • She also cranked her 16^th home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning
• Jocelyn Erickson recorded her 10^th home run of the season when she gave the Gators a 6-4 lead over the Bulldogs in the top of the seventh inning.

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