UF head coach Tim Walton pulled a surprise Saturday night, handing the start to junior left-hander Olivia Miller. Despite 24 appearances in the circle, Miller had yet to make a start in 2026. But a return to her hometown of Orlando provided the perfect stage for the opportunity.
And it was a start she will never forget.
She amassed a complete game shutout, while allowing one hit, striking out two and retiring 18 straight from the third inning to the end of the ballgame.
Holding a 1–0 lead, Florida loaded the bases courtesy of its top three hitters, setting the stage for redshirt freshman left fielder Townsen Thomas.
The cleanup hitter delivered, launching a grand slam over the centerfield wall, extending the lead to 5-0.
Moreover, it marked the third grand slam of the season for the Gators and the first of Thomas’ young career.
Behind the duo’s performance, No. 5 Florida (45-7) completed the season sweep over No. 22 Central Florida (36-14-1) with its second 7-0 win over the Knights. The Knights were held scoreless for only the fourth time this season.
In front of a sellout crowd at the UCF Softball Complex, everything was on the line. Florida aimed for its fourth season sweep of an in-state opponent, while UCF continued building its case for a regional host berth.
UCF also turned to an unfamiliar starter on Saturday, in freshman left-hander Reagan Vokun, who made just her fifth start of the season. Armed with a three-pitch mix of a drop ball, curve and rise ball, Vokun aimed to induce weak contact throughout the night.
Both pitchers set the tone early, retiring the side in order in the first inning.
Vokun was the first to run into trouble. Senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan recorded Florida’s first hit of the evening with a single to left field.
Moments later, junior right fielder Cassidy McLellan delivered, lining a triple into shallow right-center that just slipped under the glove of diving right fielder Zoe Calvez, allowing Cahalan to score and give Florida a 1-0 advantage.
In the bottom of the frame, sophomore Izzy Mertes recorded UCF’s first hit of the evening with a leadoff single, but Miller responded by inducing three straight flyouts to escape the inning.
The third-inning grand slam ended Vokun’s night in the circle, prompting UCF to turn to senior Lena Elkins for her 16th appearance of the season. Despite surrendering an infield single to junior designated player Ava Brown, Elkins worked out of the inning by inducing two flyouts to the left fielder Mertes.
Cahalan showcased her defense behind Miller in the bottom of the third. She recorded all three putouts in the frame to retire the Knights in order.
Elkins ran into trouble with two outs in the top of the fourth after issuing a walk to sophomore center fielder Taylor Shumaker and allowing senior first baseman Jocelyn Erickson to record her second hit of the day. Senior third baseman Kendall Grover followed with a walk, loading the bases for the second time on Saturday for the Gators.
With the bases full once again, Thomas stepped in and delivered, driving in her fifth RBI of the day on a fielder’s choice to shortstop that scored Shumaker.
Miller recorded her first strikeout of the day in the bottom of the fourth, retiring Knights sophomore center fielder Destiny Washington.
The Knights turned to senior Katelyn Cochran in the top of the fifth, and for the third time on Saturday night, Florida loaded the bases. Unlike the previous two opportunities, the Gators were unable to capitalize, as Cochran induced two groundouts and an infield popout to escape the jam.
After working out of the jam in the fifth, Cochran ran into the bases loaded for the second-straight inning. Thomas led the frame off with her second single of the day on a bunt single, and Cahalan followed with her second hit of the evening.
From then, Brown was hit by a pitch and McLellan recorded her second RBI of the night, lining a sacrifice fly into center field allowing Thomas to score.
The Gators return home on Tuesday for their final nonconference game of the season against Florida State. 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.
