For most of the game, it appeared fans were in for a pitching duel. That was until the top of the fifth changed everything.
In the ballgame, Florida had 15 hits. 11 of them were in the 5th and 7th innings.
No. 6 Florida capitalized on its opportunities and defeated Kansas 11-2 on day four of the USF-Rawlings Invitational. In the first of two games for the Gators that day, Florida turned to junior Keagan Rothrock, and she delivered.
Rothrock dominated the Jayhawks’ lineup throughout the day. The 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year tossed 6.2 innings, allowing just three hits while striking out eight.
So far in 2026, Rothrock owns a 3–0 record with a 1.85 ERA and has already recorded 22 strikeouts this season.
Gabi Comia continued her strong start to her sophomore season. The second baseman recorded three hits on the day, including a key double in the third inning. She leads the team in hits with 11.
With runners on second and third, senior Jocelyn Erickson grounded out to first, allowing Comia to score and giving Florida its first run of the contest.
The Gators held a narrow 1–0 lead until the 5th inning. After Comia recorded her second hit of the day, fellow sophomore Taylor Shumaker launched a home run over the center-field wall, extending Florida’s lead to 3–0.
Junior Cassidy McLellan delivered another impressive performance in her third game as a regular starter for Florida. She recorded two hits on the day, including a two-run double in the fifth inning that made the lead 5-0.
Immediately after, senior Kenleigh Cahalan ripped a double into right-center to drive in two Gators. The shortstop finished with three hits and three RBIs on the day.
After scoring six in the 5th, the Gators were not done. In the top of the 7th, junior Ava Brown and Cahalan hit back-to-back home runs to extend the margin further.
Ella Wesolowski picked up her first hit in a Florida uniform on a double in the 7th.
Florida concludes Rawlings Invitational play at 3:30 p.m. against host South Florida.
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.
