After winning NFCA freshman of the year, Taylor Shumaker has proven why she is one of the best hitters in the country in her sophomore campaign, stepping up again when Florida needed it the most.
Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth, the centerfielder launched her 14th homer of the year, tying the ballgame at five. Shumaker raised her run total to 70 on the season, scoring three runs on Wednesday.
“I've really been focusing on staying in the moment, just trying to make sure that I'm getting good swings on good pitches,” Shumaker said.
Soon after, junior third baseman Kendall Grover gave the Gators the lead by lining a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
Ultimately, the two-run fourth was the difference as No. 4 Florida (41-5, 14-4 SEC) defeated Florida Gulf Coast (15-26, 9-6 A-Sun) 9-6 on Wednesday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The Gators have now won nine of the last 11 matchups against the Eagles.
Fresh off the dominating series sweep at South Carolina, Florida’s offense wasted no time getting on the scoreboard against the Eagles.
The Gators capitalized on two defensive miscues by FGCU. In the bottom of the first, Shumaker reached on a throwing error by second baseman Ally Thompson. Senior catcher Jocelyn Erickson followed with a double to right center, moving Shumaker to third.
The second miscue proved costly. Senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan hit a grounder to first baseman Tiffany Meek, who bobbled the ball, allowing Cahalan to reach safely and Shumaker to score. Grover then lined her 45th hit of the season into right-center, scoring Erickson and extending the lead to 2-0.
Shumaker showcased her outstanding defense in the top of the second. It appeared that Sophie Wylie had recorded the Eagles’ first hit of the ballgame, but the centerfielder prevented that by making a diving play in shallow right-center field.
However, the Eagles found their hit in a costly way. Thompson drew a 2-out walk, and that set the stage for Nikki Gibson, and she delivered. The third baseman launched her first home run of the season, tying the ballgame at two.
But the Eagles’ starting pitcher, Julia Bacoulis, found herself in trouble in the bottom of the second. The freshman surrendered back-to-back walks to start the frame, and another walk found Florida with bases loaded with one out.
Florida regained the lead courtesy of a sacrifice fly by Erickson, scoring junior left fielder Cassidy McLellan, and Cahalan lined an RBI single up the middle, scoring sophomore second baseman Gabi Comia and extending the advantage 4-2.
Bacoulis saw her outing come to an end after she surrendered her fourth walk of the day, loading the bases again for Florida. Victoria Ash entered the circle and fought out of the jam, forcing Grover to fly out to the right fielder K’Mari Williams.
FGCU seized the momentum and executed, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth. Mackenzie Leiti pinch-hit and drew a walk, and a single by Sophie Wyline gave the Eagles runners on first and second. Thompson avenged her earlier miscue when she lined her third double of the season, scoring Leiti and cutting the deficit to one.
Sophomore Katelynn “Red” Oxley made her 10th start of the season in the circle, and it was a forgettable one. She lasted three innings, allowing four hits. The double ended her day, and junior Olivia Miller entered in relief with runners on first and third.
Gibson stayed hot at the plate, lining her third RBI of the day with a single up the middle to score Thompson and tie the game. Kiki Daniels took advantage of a pinch-hit opportunity, lining a single to left field to give the Eagles the lead.
But the Orlando, Florida, native quickly settled in and retired the next three Eagles she faced. She capitalized on that momentum and finished her outing recording 1-2-3 innings in the fifth and sixth.
Holding a one-run advantage, Florida’s offense needed insurance, and a three-run bottom of the fifth delivered that. McLellan led the frame off with her 10th homer of the season, extending the advantage 7-5. Shumaker and Erickson both recorded their second hit of the day to further the threat.
Cahalan continued to cruise at the plate and launched her second double of the day, scoring Shumaker and furthering the margin 8-5. Thomas delivered the knockout punch with a single into left, scoring Erickson.
The Eagles attempted to claw their way back into the game in the top of the seventh when they forced the bases loaded with one out. Keagan Rothrock entered the circle looking to end the threat. Leiti hit a sacrifice fly to cut the margin to three, but Rothrock struck out Wylie, ending the ballgame.
Florida returns to action when it hosts the Auburn Tigers for senior weekend. Game 1 is set for Friday at 6 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
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.
