After nearly capturing its third national championship in 2024, Florida softball was prepared for postseason play heading into the Gainesville Regional of the NCAA Softball Championship Tournament.
The Gators dominated the regional, going 3-0 while outscoring their opponents 30-6 to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament Super Regionals.
“To see the runs that we scored and how we played, it's very refreshing,” Florida Head Coach Tim Walton said. “To know that we can come out and compete in a tournament like this and turn the page quickly to the next opponent — it’s not easy to do.”
No. 3-seeded Florida (46-14) kicked off the festivities at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium May 16 and run-ruled the Mercer Bears (40-26) 8-0 after a walkoff single from junior catcher Jocelyn Erickson in the fifth inning.
On May 17, the Gators continued to roll, putting up a stellar offensive effort in another run-rule victory, winning 14-6 over Florida Atlantic (45-12).
Needing one more win to clinch its spot in the Super Regionals, UF prevailed over the Bears, defeating Mercer 8-0 yet again.
It was a historic three-game stretch for freshman outfielder Taylor Schumaker, who smashed multiple program records.
The 2025 All-SEC First Team selection hit 4-for-7 and blasted three home runs over the weekend. Shumaker broke the freshman home run record of 19 long balls and finished the stretch just one home run and RBI away from tying the UF single-season program records of 22 home runs and 84 RBIs.
"I wasn't even thinking about it,” Shumaker said in a press conference after tying the freshman record May 16. “Once I start looking at a number, that's when it starts getting a little overwhelming. You put a lot of pressure on yourself just to kind of achieve that number.”
Erickson also delivered at the plate throughout the regional. The junior catcher logged walk-off hits in back-to-back games.
On May 16, Erickson hit a walk-off single. The next day, she delivered a walk-off grand slam over the right field wall to seal UF’s run-rule victory. It was the 2024 SEC Player of the Year’s first career grand slam.
She added two RBIs May 18 when she hit a double down the left field line in the top of the second inning.
“When she comes up, I never think she's going to get out,” Walton said. “She had the game-ending hit for us Friday night, she had the game-winning hit yesterday and she probably would have had the game-winning hit today, if we’d have given her an opportunity to do it.”
Sophomore pitcher Ava Brown also made her presence known in the circle and at the plate. She earned the win over Mercer, pitching 2.1 innings without surrendering a run. Then on May 17, her deep line drive to right field bounced off a Florida Atlantic outfielder’s glove and over the fence, giving Florida a 4-3 advantage.
Later in the matchup, Brown stepped into the circle with the bases empty and two outs, looking to close out the Owls after they poured on three runs, bringing UF’s lead down to one. Brown was flawless in her short outing, retiring FAU on five pitches and earning her fifth save of the season.
Brown continued her excellent weekend May 18, sending a moonshot three-run home run over the left field wall in the fourth inning to give the Gators a 7-0 lead.
The Gators received support all around their lineup. On May 16, sophomore infielder Mia Williams hit two doubles, driving in a team-high three runs.
Senior outfielder Kendra Falby stepped up on May 17, hitting a two-RBI single in Florida’s seven-run fifth inning. Falby also scored a joint-team high of three runs in that contest.
On May 18, senior infielder Reagan Walsh hit 2-for-2 and scored the winning RBI on a sacrifice fly.
When the Regionals round concluded, Florida slashed a .378 batting average with 10 extra base hits and five home runs.
“It was super essential getting those strong at bats — hit-by-pitches, walks — [because] that's what makes the game go 'round,” Erickson said May 17. “Those people ultimately end up scoring, so I think that played a big factor."
On the pitching end, Florida’s starting pitchers were solid. Senior pitcher Kara Hammock got the start on May 16 and pitched 2.2 innings, allowing two hits while walking three batters.
Sophomore Keagan Rothrock earned her 13th win of the season despite an uncharacteristically shaky performance on May 17. She threw 5.2 innings, allowing six earned runs on eight hits.
Rothrock took the mound again May 18 and had a superior outing. She threw 4.1 innings, only giving up one hit and striking out six batters. Sophomore southpaw Olivia Miller finished off the final two batters to clinch UF’s victory.
“That's one thing that I've been telling our staff,” Walton said. “Historically, the more Keegan pitches, the better she gets.”
The weekend was full of success for the Gators. But it wasn’t all about the play on the field – it was about the positive mentality and work ethic of the team.
“At the end of the day, it all goes back to how you prepare,” Brown said May 18. “Across the roster, all 20 or 21 of us are all locked in and bought into that process."
The Gators advance to the Super Regionals to face the Georgia Bulldogs, who won the Durham Regional against Coastal Carolina, Duke and Howard. Super Regionals take place May 22-25.
Contact Max Bernstein at mbernstein@alligator.org. Follow him on X @maxbernstein23.
Max is the Summer 2025 sports editor. He is a third-year journalism sports & media major and in his fifth semester at The Alligator. He is a big South Florida sports fan and would die for Matthew Tkachuk.
