Just three weeks ago, head coach Tim Walton made his message clear.
“We need another pitcher to step up if we’re going to make a run in the postseason,” Walton said. “We can’t do it with just one.”
That “one,” of course, is Keagan Rothrock. The right-hander has logged 162.1 innings, compiled a 24-5 record and contributed to eight shutouts, including her first career complete-game no-hitter on April 10 against South Carolina.
But with the SEC tournament just a week away, Florida has yet to find a clear, consistent No. 2 starter. After Ava Brown went down with an injury, the workload inevitably shifted to Rothrock. Now, the Gators may have found a solution to their lack of depth: Olivia Miller.
The southpaw had yet to make a start this season, and Walton admitted it had been a mental hurdle for her. But that changed April 25 against Central Florida.
Back in her hometown of Orlando, the junior was handed the start and took full advantage, delivering a gem in the circle. She tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit with no walks.
While she may not overpower hitters, Miller thrives on inducing weak contact and letting Florida’s strong defense do the rest.
“The only reason I’m able to excel is by having confidence in my team and my defense,” Miller said after the Tennessee series win. “I bet on them every single day.”
She’s no stranger to the bright lights. Out of the bullpen this season, Miller holds a 1.23 ERA and ranks second on the Gators in innings pitched with 51.1.
A catalyst for her success has been her offseason work in the weight room. Walton promised Miller she would take on a primary relief role after logging just 31.1 innings in her sophomore campaign, and her dedication to her durability did not go unnoticed.
Perhaps her second-biggest moment this season came in Florida’s opening SEC series against Missouri. In Game 2, she turned in her longest outing of the year, tossing 7.1 shutout innings in the Gators’ 4-3 walk-off victory.
“It shows the epitome of hard work and determination, setting your mind to something and then going out and doing it,” Walton said about Miller following the series.
With no timetable for Brown’s return to the circle, Miller is projected to take on the Saturday starter role going forward, a move that would help ease Rothrock's workload.
Rothrock’s durability has been especially significant for the Gators, who have been fortunate that she has remained healthy. Last season, the junior missed more than a month, and even Walton admitted he wasn’t sure if “a clean bill of health was there.”
Now, Walton says Rothrock's growth has been evident.
“The good thing is she’s learning how to manage her body,” Walton said. “She understands how to back off when she needs to and when to turn it up a little more. That part, that’s maturity.”
That “maturity” has allowed the Whiteland, Indiana, native to make her case for SEC Pitcher of the Year consideration. As of April 26, Rothrock ranks first in the conference in wins and innings pitched.
However, Rothrock is no stranger to the workload. In her freshman season, she led the nation in games started, innings pitched, complete games, appearances and wins.
The Gators are currently projected between a No. 5 and No. 8 seed, which would guarantee them the opportunity to host both regionals and, if they advance, super regionals at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
That’s encouraging news for fans, as historically nearly 75% of teams that host super regionals go on to win the best-of-three series. Barring a sweep at Georgia, the Gators appear locked into that range.
The Gators host Florida State in their final regular-season home game on April 28. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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.
