Game 2 of the 2026 Gainesville Super Regional saw the Gators in control, but in the bottom of the fourth inning the Red Raiders had their best opportunity to flip the script. Trailing 5-2, Texas Tech loaded the bases with one out and the heart of the order due up.
Florida ace Keagan Rothrock proved she is built for the moment, striking out first baseman Jackie Lis for the second out of the inning.
It appeared Jasmyn Burns had given the Red Raiders the lead after she launched a deep fly ball to right field, but UF right fielder Ella Wesolowski made an incredible catch at the warning track, swinging the momentum back in Florida’s favor.
It marked the second start of the season in right field for Wesolowski and she was grateful postgame for being able to help her team.
"It was awesome, and whatever the team needs, I'll do it.” Wesolowski said.
Ultimately, Rothrock hurled her 20th complete game of the season, 30th win in the circle and struck out five batters.
The Gators took that momentum and never looked back, scoring four runs in the top of the fifth inning. After senior catcher Jocelyn Erickson recorded her third hit of the afternoon and redshirt freshman Townsen Thomas laid down a bunt single, senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan extended Florida’s advantage with a two-run single.
Moreover, Cahalan caught the Red Raiders defense sleeping on a delayed steal of second base. Florida capitalized on the defensive lapse when junior first baseman Madison Walker blooped a ball into no-man’s land in right field, allowing Cahalan to score.
Texas Tech’s head coach Gerry Glasco kept it real about his defense woes postgame
“We got exposed. Our defense got exposed — they couldn’t defend it. Walton did a really good job exposing things that had been there, but nobody else had exposed them all year.” Glasco said.
Finally, Wesolowski added another RBI knock, extending the Gators’ lead 9-2.
Behind the four-run inning, No. 6 Florida (52-11) dominated No. 11 Texas Tech (56-7), 10-2, Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The victory marks the fourth-straight Super Regional in which UF has advanced to a decisive Game 3.
After a heartbreaking slugfest loss on Friday, the Gators wanted to set the tone early, especially as the designated away team. There were no better candidates than sophomore Taylor Shumaker and Erickson.
Although it was no easy task facing reigning two-time National Player of the Year NiJaree Canady, Shumaker drew a full-count walk to set the stage for Erickson, who wasted no time putting Florida on the board. The catcher launched her 21st home run of the season, giving UF a 2-0 lead.
In fact, it was only the 17th home run allowed by Canady over 154.1 innings pitched this season. The ace quickly recovered, striking out the next three Gators she faced.
In the bottom half, Rothrock got the start and kept the momentum on Florida’s side, posting a scoreless inning while striking out Texas Tech first baseman Jackie Lis.
Canady quickly found her groove in the circle, retiring the Gators in order in the top of the second inning.
Rothrock continued to shine in the bottom of the second, striking out Texas Tech’s leading hitter, Kaitlyn Terry, while posting another scoreless frame.
In the top of the third, the duo of Shumaker and Erickson struck again. Shumaker doubled down the right-field line before Erickson singled into left field, allowing Shumaker to score and extending Florida’s lead to 3-0.
The run scored by Shumaker tied Skylar Wallace’s 2024 single-season program record of 90 runs.
In the bottom half, the Red Raiders forced two runners aboard after Rothrock hit shortstop Hailey Toney and second baseman Mia Williams in consecutive at-bats. Designated player Jasmyn Burns got Texas Tech on the board with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Toney and cut the deficit to 3-1.
However, the Gators answered immediately. With two outs, Cahalan singled to right field, bringing up the power bat of Walker. The junior first baseman launched her second home run of the weekend over the batting cages beyond the left-field wall.
Walker’s home run marked the first time in program history that seven Florida players have recorded double-digit home runs in a season.
The blast also ended Canady’s afternoon in the circle. She finished with 3.1 innings pitched, allowing five hits and five earned runs.
Finally, sophomore second baseman Gabi Comia pushed the Gators into double digits, reaching on an infield single that allowed Cahalan to score her third run of the afternoon.
The decisive Game 3 is set for Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. First pitch is still to be determined and will be announced later Saturday evening.
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.
