After a stunning Senior Day loss, Florida needed a response, and it delivered in a big way.
There was no better catalyst than junior ace right-hander Keagan Rothrock, who set the tone early and sparked the Gators’ resurgence.
Rothrock dominated all day and picked up her 23rd win of the season in the circle, striking out seven, while surrendering three hits.
At the plate, sophomore center fielder Taylor Shumaker continued to shine with three hits, including two doubles and two RBIs.
Ultimately, No. 4 Florida (43-6, 16-5 SEC) cruised to a 7-1 victory over Auburn (24-21, 3-15 SEC) on Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Yet again, Auburn’s Ella Harrison took the circle, looking to continue her dominance against the Gators’ lineup.
After being held scoreless for the first time all season, Florida’s top-five offense flipped the script immediately Sunday.
In the bottom of the first, Shumaker worked a full-count walk to lead off the inning. Moments later, junior third baseman Kendall Grover launched her second home run of SEC play, giving the Gators a 2-0 lead.
“Yesterday was kind of a wake-up call,” Shumaker said. “We have to find ways to make things happen when you can't always get the long ball.”
Later in the frame, redshirt freshman left fielder Townsen Thomas lined her first career triple into right-center.
Florida appeared poised to extend the lead after loading the bases with no outs, but its struggles with runners on base from Saturday persisted. Harrison escaped the jam, forcing two popouts and recording her first strikeout of the day.
After the missed opportunity, Auburn drew back-to-back walks in the top of the third, but senior first baseman Jocelyn Erickson made a standout catch in foul territory to help Rothrock escape the jam.
With five hits already on the board, Florida’s offense felt poised to break through, and it did. Thomas led off the bottom of the third with her second hit of the day, a bunt single, before junior Ava Brown roped her third double of the season to put runners on second and third.
Freshman Kalie Matsuno entered as a pinch runner for Brown, and this time, Florida capitalized. Junior right fielder Cassidy McLellan delivered an RBI single to right, scoring Thomas to make it 3-0.
Hitting out of the nine-hole, sophomore second baseman Gabi Comia hit a fielder’s choice, bringing home Matsuno from third.
Moments later, Taylor Shumaker stayed hot, lining her second hit of the day, an RBI double to center field, scoring McLellan and extending the lead to 5-0.
The duo of Shumaker and Comia remained in sync in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on two costly errors by Auburn second baseman Daigle Wilson. A throwing error allowed junior catcher Ella Wesolowski to reach, and a second miscue brought Comia aboard while Wesolowski crossed the plate.
Shumaker then stepped in and laced her second double of the game, scoring Comia from first to add to Florida’s advantage.
Auburn found a glimpse of offense in the top of the seventh when Ava Ratliff launched her second homer of the season.
Walton turned to junior left-hander Olivia Miller to close things out, and she delivered, giving the Gators their sixth SEC series victory of the season.
“It's great to have someone like Olivia. She's done a great job this year,” Walton said.
Florida returns to action on Wednesday in Tallahassee against Florida State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at JoAnne Graf Field.
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.
