Coming off its 13th Women’s College World Series appearance, Florida softball looks to get back to the main stage. With fall ball underway, the squad has shown immense promise for the upcoming year, specifically from its young talent.
A pair of sophomores and a lone freshman showed out in the Thursday exhibition game against Embry-Riddle. Florida faced the Eagles in two five-inning contests and emerged with two victories.
The first contest was a one-sided affair with the Gators posting 21 runs on 17 hits. The bottom of the fourth inning was upward of 30 minutes in duration and featured 19 at-bats. Seventeen of Florida’s runs were scored in the fourth frame.
The Gators lost immense star power last season in seniors like center fielder Kendra Falby, left fielder Korbe Otis, utility player Brooke Barnard, first baseman Reagan Walsh, right-handed pitcher Kara Hammock and graduate student shortstop Rylee Holtorf.
Now, the Gators must look towards their newcomers and fresh faces. The underclassmen will have to step up this year if Florida wants to get back to the postseason.
Sophomore shortstop Gabi Comia
Comia began her freshman season on a high note last year. In her first collegiate at-bat on Feb. 8 against Delaware, she knocked a two-run homer out of Katie Seashole Pressley Stadium. She logged a .313 batting average in the 2025 season and made 37 appearances at shortstop and as a designated player.
This year is off to a similar start for the second-year starter. Comia went 5-for-6 across both games against Embry-Riddle. She drove in three runs and stole two bases. Comia’s .833 average was the team’s best. On the defensive end, the sophomore caught a lineout, gathered two groundouts and caught two baserunners stealing.
With the departure of Holtorf, the Indiana native will have a much larger presence on the diamond this season. Holtorf came to UF in 2024 as a graduate student from Washington and made 61 starts at shortstop.
Comia’s ability to grow in the position this season will be key for the Gators’ success.
Freshman second baseman Kalie Matsuno
The former Los Alamitos Softball Rookie of the Year has large shoes to fill in her first collegiate season. Matsuno is projected to be the Gators’ newest second baseman due to the exit of junior Mia Williams.
Williams hit the transfer portal following the Gators’ final game of the WCWS and landed on the Texas Tech roster. She was just one of four Gators to have started all 65 games last season. Williams was also named to the 2025 All-SEC Second Team and cemented herself in the Florida record books. She totaled 19 homers last year, tied for sixth all-time.
Matsuno has opened her freshman season off with two hits and a sacrifice bunt in the matchup against the Eagles. On the fielding side, the California native reeled in two groundouts.
While a modest showing, Matsuno is slated to play a major role for the Gators in 2026.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Katelynn Oxley
The shift away from Hammock opens up a new spot on the Florida pitching staff. While already having cemented herself as a key component to the bullpen, Oxley has a chance to continue her dominant play.
The sophomore out of Bartow, Florida, finished last season with a 2.58 ERA, the lowest among all Gators’ pitchers. She made 26 appearances on the mound and started half the contests. Oxley was forced to enter last season late due to injury, so is fit for a quick start to the year.
The RHP closed out Florida’s second matchup on Oct. 16. Oxley pitched the game’s final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out five batters. She had the most productive outing among Florida’s staff.
Prior to her time as a Gator, Oxley was named the PCASA Pitcher of the Year in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and 2023 Florida Gatorade Player of the Year with Bartow High School.
Oxley will look to extend her control on the mound in her second year with the program with the latest change in Florida’s arms.
Contact Riley Orovitz at rorovitz@alligator.org. Follow her on X @rileyorovitz
Riley is a sophomore sports journalism student and is the swim & dive beat reporter for Fall 2025 in her first semester with The Alligator. In her free time, she may be watching past Miami Dolphins or Florida Panthers highlights or hanging out with her friends.
