On a beautiful Easter Sunday, Florida entered its third SEC rubber match of the season, and it was only fitting that it came down to the last pitch.
All tied at four in the bottom of the seventh inning, UF looked to flip the script after last Sunday’s heartbreaking walk-off loss to Arkansas. And it did just that.
Sophomore Taylor Shumaker drew a hit by pitch to lead off the inning and senior Kenleigh Cahalan singled into center, moving Shumaker to second. Head coach Tim Walton then subbed in senior Giulia Desiderio to pinch hit, and she left her mark, lining a single into left to load the bases.
Redshirt freshman Townsen Thomas then hit a fielder’s choice to shortstop Morgan Stiles, and Shumaker beat the throw home, sealing the series victory.
“My teammates did an amazing job getting on base, getting in scoring position, and we just found a way,” Thomas said.
The walkoff propelled No. 5 Florida (36-5, 11-4 SEC) in nail-biting fashion over Mississippi State (33-9, 5-7 SEC) 5-4 on Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Junior Keagan Rothrock notched her 13th complete game of the year in the circle and surrendered four hits.
It didn’t take long for Florida bats to wake up after two lackluster performances on Friday and Saturday. Shumaker led off the bottom of the first with a walk, and Cahalan drove in Shumaker on an RBI double to the left-center gap.
However, a self-inflicted wound occurred immediately after. Making her first start in left field this season, Thomas appeared to be camped under a flyball by Nadia Barbary, but it trickled off her glove and went over the wall, tying the ballgame. The longball marks the second for Barbary in the series after her two-run shot in the victory on Saturday.
Sunday marked the return of two-way star Ava Brown to the starting lineup, and the East Texas native made her presence felt immediately. She led the second inning off with a single to center field. Freshman Kalie Matsuno entered the game at first to pinch run, and junior Kendall Grover drew a four-pitch walk.
Brown reflected on her return to the field Friday postgame.
“I think that was probably one of the more surreal moments I've ever experienced in my career, " Brown said. "I felt the love, I needed the love.”
That set the stage for the Mississippi State transfer, junior Ella Wesolowski, and she delivered. Wesolowski laid down a bunt, and a throwing error by the Bulldogs’ starting pitcher, Leila Ammon, allowed Matsuno to score.
Moreover, sophomore Gabi Comia laid a perfect bunt down to load the bases and leadoff hitter Shumaker singled into right, scoring Grover, and a sacrifice fly hit by senior Jocelyn Erickson extended the advantage 4-1.
The Bulldogs offense attempted to claw their way back into the ballgame, and they found life in the top of the third through the longball. In the nine-hole, Xiane Romero launched her second homer of the season, and Kiarra Sells followed her with a homer, cutting the deficit to one.
Both offenses stalled out in the middle innings, and it appeared the Gators would hold onto the victory, but the Bulldogs had other plans. Barbary led off the seventh and forced a full count walk, and Ally Supan came into pinch run at first. A wild pitch allowed Supan to advance to second, and a fielder’s choice hit by Des Rivera moved the pinch runner to third.
The Bulldogs utilized a pinch hitter of their own, subbing in Taylor Troutman at the plate, and she lined a sacrifice fly to right, tying the ballgame.
Florida returns to action on Wednesday for its second date of the season against South Florida.
First pitch is set for 7 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.
