From the leadoff spot, your usual job is to reach base by any means possible to set up for the power hitters behind you.
But when you’re Taylor Shumaker, sometimes you can do it all yourself. The sophomore recorded her first multi-home run game Friday since May 17, 2025.
Behind Shumaker’s performance, No. 4 Florida (15-0) cruised to a 10-0 run-rule victory over Longwood (1-9) Friday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. With the win, the Gators move to 15-0 for the first time since the 2022 season.
In the circle, junior Keagan Rothrock got the start for Florida, and she clinched her seventh victory of the season. In the first inning, Rothrock picked up her 50th strikeout of the season when she retired the Longwood leadoff Ava Abromavage.
Afterward, in the bottom half, senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan got the scoring started when she drove in Shumaker to give Florida an early 1-0 lead. She now leads Florida in hits (23) and RBIs (22) on the season.
Shumaker launched her first longball of the day and drove in redshirt freshman Townsen Thomas and sophomore Gabi Comia to extend the lead 4-0. The right fielder had a season-high four RBIs in the win
Shortly after, a pair of singles with the bases loaded by juniors Ava Brown and Madison Walker furthered the margin 7-0. Florida scored six runs in the bottom of the 2nd.
The longballs kept coming as Shumaker launched her second homer of the day in the bottom of the third. Cahalan joined the party when she grabbed herself a bomb to make the lead 9-0.
The Gators continue play in the 2026 Florida Tournament against Middle Tennessee on Friday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 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.
