In front of a rowdy atmosphere at JoAnne Graf Field, a top-10 showdown unfolded between two bitter rivals.
The Sunshine State Showdown: Florida vs. Florida State. The matchup carried high stakes, as both teams jockeyed for improved national seeding with the postseason just weeks away.
Ultimately, No. 5 Florida (43-7) continued its struggles against No. 10 Florida State (40-7), falling 3-1. The Gators have now lost eight of their last 10 matchups against the Seminoles.
Heading into Wednesday, the matchup featured what many softball fans had been waiting for: a showdown between two of the nation’s top hitters. Florida’s Taylor Shumaker and Florida State’s Isa Torres.
Both entered the game ranked in the top five nationally in hits, with Shumaker at 77 and Torres just behind at 76.
Moreover, Torres entered the game leading the nation with a .589 batting average, while Shumaker’s .475 mark ranked 12th nationally.
And both wasted no time making an impact.
Shumaker, coming off a three-hit performance against Auburn on Sunday, wasted no time setting the tone. The sophomore center fielder led off the game by launching her 4th leadoff longball of the season, giving the Gators an early 1-0 lead.
The Gator bats continued to give Florida State’s starter Jazzy Franick trouble after the leadoff home run. Senior catcher Jocelyn Erickson executed a perfect bunt to reach base and junior third baseman Kendall Grover followed her with a single up the middle.
However, Franick settled in and worked out of the jam, retiring the next three Florida hitters in order.
That set the stage for shortstop Isa Torres. The Georgetown, Texas, native led off the bottom of the first with her 12th home run of the season, tying the game.
Florida once again turned to junior Keagan Rothrock in the circle, and she responded after the leadoff homer by retiring the next three Seminole hitters in order.
In the top of the third, Florida had a golden opportunity to take the lead. Erickson led off the frame with her second hit of the day, and a walk by senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan put runners on first and second. Redshirt freshman left fielder Townsen Thomas then laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases.
But the Gators couldn’t capitalize. Junior designated player Ava Brown grounded into an inning-ending double play to Seminoles second baseman Marin Heller.
Rothrock cruised through the second but ran into trouble again in the third. Leading off the inning, Torres delivered once more, launching her second home run of the game putting FSU ahead 2-1.
Florida State turned to the bullpen, bringing in two-way star Ashtyn Danley, but she ran into trouble early.
Florida threatened to tie the game once again as back-to-back hits from junior first baseman Madison Walker and sophomore second baseman Gabi Comia put runners on the corners.
But the Gators couldn’t cash in, as Jocelyn Erickson popped out in foul territory to end the inning.
The missed opportunity proved costly, as Florida State extended its lead moments later. Center fielder Kennedy Harp led off the bottom of the fourth with a single to left, and Heller followed with a walk. Right fielder Shelby McKenzie then delivered an RBI single to left, scoring Harp from second.
Florida caught a break when Heller was tagged out in a rundown between second and third for the first out of the inning.
Rothrock then issued a walk to nine hole hitter Hayley Griggs, putting runners on first and second and ending her day. Junior left-hander Olivia Miller entered in relief and limited the damage, inducing a fielder’s choice hit by the redhot Torres and a flyout to end the inning.
Two hit-by-pitches issued by Danley allowed Grover and Thomas to reach, but for the second time Wednesday, Brown grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Danley closed out the game with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings, slamming the door on Florida.
Florida returns home Friday for another in-state matchup, this time against UCF. First pitch is set for 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.
