Sunday’s Super Regional Game 3 was pure chaos.
23 combined runs, 19 hits and seven home runs.
Ultimately, the Red Raiders got the upper hand on the Gators, scoring nine unanswered runs after Florida tied the contest at 7-7.
In fact, the game made NCAA postseason history as it was the first time both teams scored seven runs in the first two innings.
The nine unanswered runs brought UF’s season to a close as No. 11 Texas Tech (57-7) run-ruled No. 6 Florida (52-13), 16-7, Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The Red Raiders advanced to Oklahoma City for the second straight season, while the Gators suffered just their fourth Super Regional loss at home in program history.
Texas Tech head coach Gerry Glasco reflected on the slugfest afterward.
“We knew it was going to be a war. We knew it was going to be a slugfest,” Glasco said. “I thought our kids came out and made a statement.”
UF catcher Jocelyn Erickson batted 1-for-3 in the loss and later faced the emotions of playing her final game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
“Florida softball changed my life,” Erickson said. “It was the best decision I ever made to come here, and I’m just so thankful for the people who have transformed me into the person I am today.”
Texas Tech struck first in a nightmare opening frame for the Gators. For the fifth time in 10 at-bats this weekend, second baseman Mia Williams was hit by a pitch, and moments later first baseman Jackie Lis lined a double into deep right field, putting runners on second and third.
Cleanup hitter Jasmyn Burns then lined a single into left field, allowing both runners to score. Texas Tech extended its advantage on a defensive miscue by Florida.
After right fielder Lauren Allred lined out to left fielder Townsen Thomas, the Gators attempted to throw out the runner at third, but an overthrow by second baseman Gabi Comia allowed the Red Raiders to extend their lead to 3-0.
But just like in Game 1, the Gators didn’t back down.
For the third time this series, sophomore Taylor Shumaker drew a leadoff walk, and senior Jocelyn Erickson lined a single up the middle. Senior Kendall Grover came to the plate with two outs and delivered a massive double into left-center, scoring Shumaker and Erickson.
Shumaker’s run set Florida’s single-season runs scored record at 91.
Fresh off her 3-for-4 performance in Game 2, senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan stepped to the plate and put the Gators in front with a two-run homer to left-center.
That forced Texas Tech southpaw Kaitlyn Terry from the game as NiJaree Canady entered in relief. But before Canady could throw a pitch, lightning struck, resulting in a two-and-a-half-hour weather delay.
When play resumed at 2:55 p.m., Canady wasted no time closing out the inning, inducing a flyout to shortstop Hailey Toney.
In the top of the second, Florida ace Keagan Rothrock surrendered a leadoff walk to nine-hole hitter Logaan Halleman, and Williams gave the Red Raiders the lead back with her second two-run homer of the weekend, making it 5-4.
Moreover, Rothrock issued her second walk of the frame, and Lis extended Texas Tech’s lead with another two-run longball.
But once again, the Gators refused to surrender.
Sophomore second baseman Gabi Comia sparked the rally with a leadoff single, and Shumaker drew her second walk of the day. That prompted Terry to reenter the circle, where she experienced deja vu from Friday. Junior designated player Ava Brown launched her second homer of the weekend off Terry, this time a three-run blast that tied the game at 7-7.
In the top of the third, Red Raiders third baseman Taylor Pannell reclaimed the lead with a leadoff solo home run that ended Rothrock’s day in the circle. She finished with two innings pitched, allowing six hits and seven earned runs.
Florida turned to freshman Leah Stevens in relief, but she ran into trouble early. Halleman recorded an infield single, and center fielder Mihyia Davis reached on an error by Cahalan.
That set the stage for the red-hot Lis, who continued her dominant day at the plate by launching her second homer of the afternoon. Her three-run shot extended the Red Raiders’ lead to 11-7, and she ultimately finished 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs and five RBIs.
In the bottom half, the Gators were retired in order for the first time courtesy of Canady, who struck out Cahalan before inducing a flyout and groundout.
Adding more insurance runs, Allred reached on an infield single, and Pannell launched her second home run of the game, extending the advantage to 13-7.
“Yeah, I think I was going in with no pressure really,” Pannell said. “I wanted to do it for my team, do it for Mia and prove that yesterday really wasn’t the way we played. We responded.”
Stevens’ day in the circle came to an end after the longball, and for the first time this postseason, junior Allison Sparkman made an appearance in the circle.
The Gators had their best opportunity to claw back into the game after loading the bases in the bottom of the fourth, but they were unable to capitalize as Canady struck out Grover to escape the jam.
Everything finally fell apart for the Gators in the top of the fifth. Sparkman walked five batters, allowing Texas Tech to tack on three more runs, extending the lead to 16-7.
Canady and Terry combined to pitch all five innings for Texas Tech, frequently swapping places for favorable matchups.
Glasco explained that he made the decision during the weather delay.
“I knew in this situation we had so much on the line,” Glasco said. “That break gave me the momentum to really think it through. This is the time where I’ve got two All-Americans.”
As the 2025-26 season comes to a close, Florida will lose a third of its lineup to graduation. However, the Gators will return seven of their nine everyday starters next season and are not expected to lose any pitchers.
“I always hate the end of the year, even when you win,” Florida head coach Tim Walton said. “It’s hard because the people are what make this place special and what make coaching special … I’m really proud to be the coach of our team, but at the end of the day, congratulations to those guys. They earned going to the College World Series.”
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.
