In Division I softball, pitching depth is essential, unless you’re Florida ace Keagan Rothrock and can do it all yourself, or so we thought.
Her dominance was on full display in Sunday’s rubber match through the first four innings, and she held a no-hitter heading into the fifth.
But Arkansas right fielder Kailey Wycoff led off the bottom of the fifth by being hit by a pitch, and third baseman Ella McDowell broke up the no-hit bid with a single into left. Moments later, Karlie Davidson launched a three-run homer to left, cutting Florida’s lead to 4–3.
It appeared the Razorbacks’ offense was building momentum. In the sixth, Arkansas put two runners on, but Rothrock made quick work of the lineup, retiring the next two batters to escape the jam.
Lightning struck twice in the bottom of the seventh, as Arkansas’ Reagan Johnson lined a single into left and Brinili Bain drew a walk, threatening to tie or win the ballgame. Rothrock settled in, striking out McDowell, and it seemed that Florida would take the series.
However, Dakota Kennedy delivered in the biggest moment, launching a walk-off three-run homer to seal the series upset for the Razorbacks.
The first walkoff surrendered by UF this season allowed No. 10 Arkansas (30-5, 5-4 SEC) over No. 3 Florida (33-4, 9-3 SEC) in heartbreaking fashion 6-4 at Bogle Park on Sunday. Florida drops its first SEC series of the year and will look to regroup next weekend against Mississippi State.
Fresh off the sixteen hits, eight doubles, and four homers on Saturday, the Gators brought that momentum right out of the gate.
Leading off the inning, redshirt freshman Townsen Thomas lined a double down the left-field line, and sophomore Taylor Shumaker drew a four-pitch walk. Senior Jocelyn Erickson then stepped to the plate and put Florida on the board with a single to right-center, scoring Thomas from second.
Senior Kenleigh Cahalan then launched a no-doubter over the center-field wall, extending the margin to 3–0. Cahalan has been seeing the ball well all weekend, recording two hits Saturday night and homering in back-to-back games for the first time since she did so against North Florida and Longwood in February.
Fortunately, the Razorbacks’ pitching staff issued free passes all day, and the Gators capitalized. Florida drew five walks and took advantage in the top of the third. Shumaker worked her second walk of the day, and junior Madison Walker followed with a free pass of her own.
Back in her groove at the plate, junior Kendall Grover lined a single up the middle, scoring Shumaker and making it 4-0 in favor of Florida.
From that point on, the Gators managed just two hits, and that was courtesy of the unsung hero for the Razorbacks, relief pitcher Saylor Timmerman.
After a brief outing on Saturday, recording just one out, Timmerman bounced back when her team needed her most. Entering down 3–0, she delivered six strong innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run while earning her seventh win of the season
Florida will look to bounce back in a midweek matchup as it travels to DeLand, Florida, to take on Stetson. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Patricia Wilson Field.
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.
