After an uncharacteristic 0-for-3 performance on Saturday, sophomore center fielder Taylor Shumaker wasn’t going to let the same happen Sunday. She led off the bottom of the first inning with a double down the left-field line, getting herself back into the hit column.
The extra-base hit was historic, as it set Florida’s single-season doubles record with 113.
Shumaker wasn’t finished rewriting the record book. In the bottom of the third, sophomore second baseman Gabi Comia lined a two-out double into right field, setting the stage once again for the sophomore slugger.
She delivered, launching her 40th home run of the season over the left-center-field fence and moving into sole possession of 10th place on Florida’s all-time home run list.
“It feels great. Obviously, we have so many Gator greats who have done so many great things for this program,” Shumaker said. “Ultimately, I just feel like the program has done a really good job of just fostering a really competitive drive that makes me want to be great like everybody else.”
Behind Shumaker’s excellence, No. 6 Florida (51-10) swept the 2026 Gainesville Regional with a 5-2 win over Georgia Tech (32-29). The Gators advance to Super Regionals for the 17th time in school history.
Head coach Tim Walton reflected on his players’ professionalism day in and day out this season
“That makes me really proud of our players,” Walton said. “When they put this uniform on, it's just a reflection of what we've instilled in them day in and day out.”
For the third time in regional play, junior Keagan Rothrock earned the start in the circle for UF but ran into trouble early after issuing a four-pitch leadoff walk to sophomore Alyssa Willer. Rothrock quickly settled in, retiring the next three batters in order.
On the other side, Georgia Tech turned to freshman Madalyn Johnson for the third time this weekend. However, despite tossing two complete games against Texas State, Johnson did not find the same success Sunday. She finished with 2.2 innings pitched, allowing five hits and four earned runs.
After Shumaker’s leadoff double, senior catcher Jocelyn Erickson drew a four-pitch walk, and junior designated player Ava Brown laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position.
From the cleanup spot, redshirt freshman left fielder Townsen Thomas put Florida on the board with a fielder’s choice, allowing Shumaker to cross home plate for a 1-0 advantage.
In the top of the second, Rothrock retired the Yellow Jackets in order, inducing two groundouts and a flyout. She continued to cruise in the third, recording her first strikeout of the afternoon against Willer.
Looking to extend its 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third, Florida loaded the bases with no outs after bunt singles from Thomas and senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan, followed by a hit-by-pitch to senior third baseman Kendall Grover.
Yet again, the Gators capitalized on a fielder’s choice when junior catcher Ella Wesolowski grounded out to first base, allowing Thomas to score and extend the lead to 4-0.
That saw Johnson’s day in the circle come to an end, and Georgia Tech turned to sophomore Sydnie Watts to work out of the jam. She struck out Comia, stranding runners at second and third.
Moreover, Shumaker drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth, and Brown followed with a walk of her own, giving UF runners on first and second. The left fielder Thomas then recorded her second RBI of the day on a single to center field, allowing Shumaker to score her third run of the afternoon.
Rothrock continued to dominate in the circle, retiring the Yellow Jackets in order in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Holding a no-hit bid through five frames, Rothrock saw it end in a crucial moment in the top of the sixth. After surrendering two walks, Georgia Tech cleanup hitter Addison Leschber lined a two-RBI double into left-center, cutting the Gators’ lead to three.
Rothrock returned to the circle in the seventh, looking to punch the Gators’ ticket back to Super Regionals, and did just that, slamming the door on the Yellow Jackets’ season.
Florida now awaits the winner of the Lubbock Regional in next weekend’s Super Regionals. Dates are still to be determined, with the Gators expected to begin play either Thursday or Friday.
“I told them after the game, we can’t take moments like this for granted,” Walton said. “This team has won 51 games, Keagan has won 29 games in the circle, we’re regional champions and moving on to the super regionals. None of it is easy.”
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.
