On a chilly evening in Fayetteville, a top ten matchup was in store for the Gators for the second consecutive weekend.
Heading into the weekend, the Gators were in search of their first series victory in Fayetteville since the 2017 sweep over the Razorbacks.
However, Florida’s offense stalled at the plate, largely due to Razorbacks starter Robyn Herron, who recorded five strikeouts through the first three frames. The southpaw earned her 10th win of the season, tossing five innings and lowering her ERA to 1.71.
Behind Herron, the Razorbacks capitalized in the bottom of the third. Rothrock ran into trouble after issuing two walks, and a base hit from Reagan Johnson loaded the bases for Tianna Bell, and she delivered. The first baseman ripped a two-run single into left field, giving Arkansas the lead. Bell now leads the team with 40 RBIs on the season.
The early deficit proved too much to overcome, as No. 3 Florida (32–3, 8–2 SEC) fell to No. 10 Arkansas (29–4, 4–3 SEC), 6–2. The Gators will need to win back-to-back games to secure their first series victory over the Razorbacks in Gainesville since 2019.
In the circle, Keagan Rothrock notched her 19th start of the season and it was a forgettable one. Rothrock struggled all night with staying ahead in the count and surrendered six hits and four free passes.
Moreover, she matched her season high in runs allowed, surrendering five the same total she gave up in Florida’s first loss of the season against UCLA on Feb. 27.
After being held hitless through the first four times around, The Gators’ offense saw little momentum in the top of the fifth. Junior Madison Walker notched Florida’s first hit of the evening on an infield single and junior Ella Wesolowski double found UF with second and third.
From then, graduate student Giulia Desiderio got the pinch hit opportunity and drew a four pitch walk. Redshirt freshman Townsen Thomas came up with two outs and beat out a groundball, scoring Walker, cutting the deficit in half.
In response, the Razorbacks forced the bases loaded yet again and that saw Rothrock’s day come to an end. Junior Olivia Miller entered the circle and it seemed she recorded the second out of the inning, but third base umpire Marc Brown ruled an illegal pitch and that proved costly for Florida.
That led to Kailey Wyckoff lined a sac fly into left, scoring Ella McDowell from third, extending the margin 3-1. Miller was pulled and Allison Sparkman came into the circle, but the Razorback offense lit her up. She surrendered four hits including a two RBI single by catcher Kennedy Miller scored Bell and Dakota Kennedy made the Razorbacks lead 5-1.
In addition, Johnson made history recording her 262nd career setting a new program career hits record and extending the Razorbacks advantage 6-2.
Down to its last six outs, senior Kenleigh Cahalan lined a single into right center scoring fellow senior Jocelyn Erickson ending Herron’s day in the circle.
Sophomore Payton Burnham came in relief and notched her second save of the season. The Eugene, Oregon, native hurled two clean frames and recorded one strikeout.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday night. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. at Bogle Park.
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.
