Down to its final six outs and trailing by three runs, Florida needed a rally — and needed it quickly. Junior Madison Walker sparked it with a solo home run to cut the deficit to 8-5.
That marked the end of Texas Tech starter Kaitlyn Terry’s day in the circle. The left-hander tossed five innings, allowing five runs while striking out four batters.
Texas Tech then turned to two-time National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady, but the Gators showed no fear. Junior pinch hitter Ella Wesolowski was hit by the first pitch she saw, and moments later sophomore second baseman Gabi Comia lined a single the other way to flip the lineup over for Taylor Shumaker.
However, it appeared Canady would escape the jam after she struck out Shumaker and Jocelyn Erickson in consecutive at-bats. Ava Brown had other plans.
The junior launched a game-tying three-run homer to complete the comeback after the Gators had previously trailed 7-1.
It seemed like Florida would carry the momentum and take Game 1, but the Red Raiders didn’t back down and snatched it right back.
And it proved to be the perfect moment for former Gator junior second baseman Mia Williams. After catcher Lagi Quiroga drew a full-count walk, Williams launched a go-ahead two-run homer to give Texas Tech a 10-8 lead.
Canady returned to the circle in the seventh and tossed a scoreless frame, slamming the door shut on Game 1.
In a rollercoaster contest, No. 6 Florida (51-11) fell to No. 11 Texas Tech (56-6) 10-8 on Friday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The victory marked the Red Raiders’ first-ever win over the Gators after previously going 0-4 in the all-time series.
Leading off the contest for the Red Raiders, Williams received a not-so-warm welcome after being hit by the first pitch she saw from junior right-hander Keagan Rothrock.
Rothrock battled back and induced two flyouts before surrendering a two-out walk to Texas Tech cleanup hitter, junior third baseman Taylor Pannell. That brought up dangerous junior two-way player Terry, who entered the contest leading the team in batting average. Terry narrowly missed a three-run home run, flying out to the warning track in center field.
In the bottom half of the inning, Shumaker set the tone by drawing a full-count walk in an 11-pitch at-bat. The designated player Brown then recorded the game’s first hit with a single into left field.
With two outs, senior third baseman Kendall Grover put the Gators on the board, lining an RBI single into left field to score Shumaker from second. The run moved Shumaker within three of breaking Florida’s single-season runs record.
Once again, the Red Raiders put two runners on base after junior right fielder Lauren Allred recorded the team’s first hit of the morning and senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan committed an error that allowed sophomore shortstop Hailey Toney to reach.
However, Rothrock recovered and worked out of the jam, inducing two more flyouts to left fielder Townsen Thomas to end the threat.
Both teams were retired in order in the third inning, and in the top half, the Gators showcased their stellar defense once again by turning a 6-4-3 double play.
Holding a narrow 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth, Florida had escaped multiple threats early, as the Red Raiders stranded four baserunners through the first three innings. But in the fourth, everything unraveled for the Gators.
Leading off the frame, Terry reached base after Cahalan committed her second error of the game. Rothrock recovered to retire the next two hitters, but Toney lined an RBI double down the right-field line, scoring Terry and tying the game.
It was an afternoon to forget defensively for Cahalan. Quiroga hit a ground ball that glanced off Cahalan’s glove and rolled into left field, allowing the Red Raiders to take the lead.
The miscues continued moments later when Williams hit another grounder to Cahalan that nicked off her glove, allowing Quiroga to score and extend Texas Tech’s advantage 3-1.
Ultimately, Rothrock finished with four innings pitched, allowing five hits and three runs, none of which were earned. Junior left-hander Olivia Miller entered in relief, but her outing was cut short after she surrendered four earned runs on four hits in 0.2 innings.
The Red Raiders extended their advantage in the top of the fifth with two home runs. Allred started the scoring barrage with a three-run homer over the left-center-field wall. Then, Quiroga launched a towering solo shot over the scoreboard, extending Texas Tech’s lead to 7-1.
The Gators responded in the bottom half with back-to-back home runs. After Erickson reached base on an error committed by Williams, Brown launched a two-run homer. Immediately after, Townsen Thomas added a solo shot to cut the deficit to 7-4.
She tossed five innings, allowing five runs while striking out four batters.
Sophomore right-hander Katelynn “Red” Oxley entered in relief in the sixth, but ran into trouble early.
The Red Raiders added a key insurance run, once again courtesy of Allred. She drove in her fifth RBI of the afternoon with a single into left field, extending Texas Tech’s advantage to 8-4.
Game 2 of the Super Regional is set for Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on ABC.
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.
