In the first of two games on Saturday, Florida softball relied on opposite-field hitting, and the predominantly left-handed lineup delivered for the Gators.
In front of a sell-out crowd on Day 3 of the USF-Rawlings Invitational, No. 6 Florida defeated Michigan 5-1. Junior pitcher Keagan Rothrock took the mound for the second consecutive game and was dominant, throwing a complete game and recording seven strikeouts in the win. She is now 2-0 on the season
The Gators stumbled out of the gate, as Michigan’s leadoff hitter Jenissa Conway hit a home run off Rothrock in the top of the first. That would, however, be one of only three hits Florida’s ace would surrender.
Florida quickly responded in the bottom of the first when senior Kendall Grover drove in redshirt freshman Townsen Thomas to tie the ball game.
UF head coach Tim Walton said he has been impressed with the immediate impact Grover has made since she arrived to Florida.
“It's funny, just the Fall, how she's developed and what she's got, she got better at third base. She's got better as a hitter,” Walton said.
The Gators broke the tie in the bottom of the 4th courtesy of an RBI single by junior Madison Walker.
Florida wasn’t done there, as sophomore Gabi Comia hit a two-RBI double to extend the Gators lead to 4-1.
Comia has started the year off on the right note as the second baseman now has tallied four hits and three RBIs. Her RBI total is already half of the six RBIs she recorded during her freshman season.
Shortly after the Comia double, Thomas recorded her first career hit for Florida on an RBI double, extending the Florida lead to 5-1. The redshirt freshman went 2-2 in the game and walked twice.
Florida continues Rawlings Invitational play at 4:30 p.m against Bethune-Cookman
Contact Zach Moore at zmoore@alligator.org. Follow him on X @zach_moore27.
Zach is a sophomore sports journalism student in his first semester at The Alligator, covering softball. He also has experience as an intern in the Florida Collegiate Summer League. Zach enjoys watching sports in his free time, primarily the Minnesota Vikings, Orlando Magic, and Arsenal FC.
