The start to the season for Florida has been unforgettable. The Gators lead the nation in hits (192), doubles (44) and walks (103), and UF remains one of just five teams in the NCAA still undefeated.
In addition, the Gators have outscored opponents 177–31, and their perfect 19-0 record marks the program’s best start since the 2016 team that opened the season with 25 straight wins.
After a remarkable start to the season, the Gators face their toughest stretch yet this weekend at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California.
The trip out west marks a homecoming for multiple Gators, most notably sophomore Taylor Shumaker, who is from Fullerton.
“I’m excited for Taylor,” head coach Tim Walton said. “She could probably throw a softball from her house to Cal State Fullerton’s softball field.”
Along with the right fielder, Walton and freshman Kalie Matsuno are from Cerritos, which is a fifteen-minute drive away from Fullerton. Assistant coaches Francesca Ena and Aric Thomas are also from the Southern California area.
A date with the California Golden Bears on Thursday night opens up play for Florida. In its second year in the Atlantic Coastal Conference, Cal has struggled and is on a five-game losing streak heading into the weekend.
Immediately after, Florida plays East Texas A&M for the first time in program history. Similar to Cal, the Lions are on a seven-game losing streak. Senior KK Cosek leads the team offensively with 14 hits and three triples.
Florida’s toughest test this week will come against the No. 9 UCLA Bruins. One of the most decorated programs in college softball history, UCLA has won 12 national championships, with its most recent title coming in 2019. The Bruins have started the season 13-3, including wins over No. 17 Louisiana State, No.19 South Carolina, and No. 23 Duke.
Leading the charge for the Bruins offensively is two-time NFCA first team All-American Megan Grant. The senior is tied for the most home runs in the nation with 11. Behind Grant, the Bruins have four players batting over .400, and first baseman Jordan Woolery leads the nation in RBIs with 36.
In the last meeting between the Gators and Bruins in 2024, Keagan Rothrock threw a complete game shutout, and Florida edged out a 1-0 win.
Perhaps one of the most consistent mid-major teams in the country is Loyola Marymount. The Lions were recently ranked No. 10 among all Division I softball mid-major programs and are 13-2.
Historically, LMU has maintained a strong national presence, making multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Lions’ most recent postseason run came in 2023, when they reached the Stanford Regional but were ultimately eliminated by Florida.
At the helm for LMU is head coach Tairia Flowers, now in her sixth season leading the program. A former Olympic gold medalist with Team USA at the 2004 Athens Games, Flowers brings elite international experience to the dugout. She also served as an assistant coach for Team USA during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the team earned a silver medal
LMU’s recipe for success looks different from Florida’s, as the Lions have hit just seven home runs compared to the Gators’ nation-leading 40. But that hasn’t kept them off the scoreboard. LMU has recorded six games with 10 or more hits. Senior Avery Francis leads the Lions with 25.
Concluding the trip, Florida will face another Olympian head coach over the weekend, Oregon State’s Laura Berg. Berg joined the coaching staff as an assistant and was named head coach prior to the 2013 season.
In her playing days, Berg won three consecutive gold medals at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games and is considered one of the decorated national team players of all time.
As a result, Berg’s impact was immediate in her first year. She won 34 games, the most wins ever for a Beavers head coach in their first year.
Oregon State has its own dominant force at the plate, and that is shortstop Jaeya Butler. The junior is the face of the team in every offensive category and ties UCLA’s Grant with 11 homers.
Looking to stay undefeated going into conference play, No.4 Florida (19-0) opens the Judi Garman Classic play against California (5-11) on Thursday. First pitch is set for 8 p.m.
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.
