After surrendering the lead in the top of the sixth inning, the Gators trailed 8-6. But with the dangerous duo of Taylor Shumaker and Jocelyn Erickson due up to lead off the bottom half, it was evident Florida had an answer.
With two hits on the day already, the center fielder led the frame off with a single and that set the stage for Erickson, one homer shy of becoming the fifth player in program history to reach 50 career home runs.
And she made history, launching a two-run home run over the right-field wall to tie the game at eight.
Moreover, junior designated player Ava Brown drew a walk and Townsen Thomas reached on a fielding error, prolonging the Gators’ big inning. Senior third baseman Kendall Grover then gave UF the lead, lining her third RBI single of Thursday’s game to score Thomas.
Junior Ella Wesolowski provided a crucial insurance run on an RBI single that extended the Gators’ advantage to 10-8.
The four-run sixth inning ultimately propelled No. 3 seed Florida (48-9) past No. 14 seed Auburn (27-28) in a 10-9 slugfest Thursday at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. The contest featured three ties and three lead changes, while the Tigers outhit the Gators 12-11.
Following upset wins over No. 11 seed Missouri and No. 6 seed Texas A&M, Auburn entered Thursday at 27-27, one victory shy of moving above .500 and remaining in consideration for the NCAA Tournament.
Ella Harrison has been the workhorse for the Tigers this week, and the ace made her third start in as many days Thursday. The opening frame had been a thorn in the side of Harrison, as she allowed multiple runs in the first inning in each of her previous two starts in tournament play.
UF looked to complete the hat trick after Shumaker led off the game with a single. Shortly after, Brown singled to right field, putting runners on the corners. But Harrison worked out of the jam after inducing a flyout from senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan.
Heading into the quarterfinal bout, Auburn’s bats had been scorching hot, launching seven home runs across two games. As it carried that success into the top of the second inning, no player was more fitting to provide a spark than home run leader Ma’Nia Womack. The center fielder led off the frame with her 15th home run of the season, giving Auburn a 1-0 lead.
Junior Keagan Rothrock notched the start in the circle for UF but experienced trouble throughout.
Looking for an immediate answer, Grover led off the bottom of the second and delivered. She took the first pitch she saw over the left field wall, tying the contest at one.
However, the Tigers loaded the bases in the top of the third inning, and cleanup hitter AnnaLea Adams cleared them with a three-run double into left-center field, putting Auburn in front 4-1.
Looking for more insurance, Auburn loaded the bases again with two outs. Ava Ratliff stepped to the plate and launched a deep fly ball into left field, but the left fielder Thomas made an incredible grab to rob Ratliff of a potential bases-clearing double.
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the third inning, Florida needed an answer quickly, or its hopes of advancing in the SEC Tournament would come to an end. But a four spot in the frame kept the dream alive.
Shumaker led the rally with a leadoff single, and UF soon had runners on the corners with one out. After showcasing her phenomenal defense in the top half, Thomas stepped to the plate and delivered.
The redshirt freshman singled into right-center field, allowing Shumaker to score. UF then capitalized on a defensive miscue by catcher Ava Ratliff with runners on second and third. Cahalan drew a walk on a wild pitch, allowing one run to score. Ratliff then committed a throwing error on the toss back to the pitcher Harrison, allowing Thomas to tie the game.
From there, Grover delivered once again. She lined a single down the left-field line, scoring Cahalan and putting UF in front for the first time in the game.
Harrison saw her day in the circle come to a close, and Abby Herndon entered the circle. The left-hander minimized the damage and recorded two consecutive outs to work out of the threat.
After surrendering three runs in the top of the third inning, Rothrock’s day in the circle was finished, and junior left-hander Olivia Miller entered in the top of the fourth. But Miller immediately ran into trouble.
Auburn’s Kylie Shaw and Alyssa Hastings led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and McKaela Walker tied the contest with an RBI single that plated Shaw.
Sophomore second baseman Gabi Comia led off the bottom of the fourth inning by legging out an infield single and later stole second to move into scoring position. Then, UF capitalized on another defensive miscue by the Tigers. Erickson hit a ball into shallow left-center field that deflected off shortstop Hastings’ glove, allowing Comia to score and put Florida back in front.
Down to its final six outs and trailing 6-5, the Tigers had the top of the order due up in the top of the sixth. They delivered when it mattered the most. Alyssa Hastings led off the frame with a single up the middle, and Mckaela Walker drew a four-pitch walk that put runners at first and second with no outs.
Cleanup hitter Adams stepped to the plate and continued her dominant day after her bases-clearing double in the third inning, launching her eighth home run of the season to dead center. Her three-run blast put the Tigers back ahead 8-6.
In the seventh, Rothrock was called upon to close and looked to avenge her earlier outing. She retired the first two Tigers with ease, but Adams continued her stellar day at the plate, launching a solo home run to left field. Her seven-RBI performance set a new SEC Tournament single-game record.
However, Rothrock quickly recovered by striking out Womack to shut the door on the Tigers’ season.
The Gators now await the winner of No. 2 seed Alabama and No. 7 seed Arkansas in the semifinals on Friday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.
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.
