The game was tied 1-1 in the fourth. Georgia Tech’s starter, sophomore Sydnie Watts, thought she recorded her second strikeout of the day, but softball is a game of inches, and the count moved to 3-2.
The story of the day for the Gators was the reliance on home runs. Florida had nine dingers across the doubleheader, more than enough for the No. 4 Gators to cruise to a run-rule 14-4 victory over the Marshall Thundering Herd. In the victory, the Gators had 12 hits across the game.
A slugfest is unfamiliar territory for the 2026 Florida softball team. Throughout its first nine games, the pitching staff had a combined .80 ERA and had only given up 13 runs. That all changed in Saturday’s matinee.
Softball is full of ups and downs, and that was exactly what the Florida Gators faced in tonight’s matchup. Florida adversity continued until the sixth, when all eyes were on the reigning Softball America freshman of the year, Taylor Shumaker, and she delivered.
On a beautiful day at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, No. 4 Florida defeated Marshall 6-3. Today’s matchup marked the fifth time the Gators and Thundering Herd have faced each other, and Florida moved to 5-0 in the series following the win.
The eyes were on senior shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan early on in the contest. The bases were loaded in the third inning, and Cahalan launched a dead-center grand slam to give Florida a 7-0 lead.
14 runs in the third inning. Six in the fifth inning. 20 total runs. Yes, you read that right.
Once again for Florida softball, the pitching staff delivered. The Gators used two pitchers on Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Katelynn Oxley got the start for Florida, as the Bartow, Florida, native tossed four innings with five strikeouts, allowing her lone run in the first inning.
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.
The story of the night for Florida was the phenomenal performance of the Gators’ bats.
In the first of two games on Saturday, Florida softball relied on opposite-field hitting, and the predominantly left-handed lineup delivered for the Gators.
Looking to open the 2026 season off on the right foot, Florida turned to their ace: Keagan Rothrock. The junior took the mound and was in sparkling form.
Coming off its second-straight Women’s College World Series appearance, Florida softball will look to avenge last year’s early exit in Oklahoma City. The Gators debuted at No. 10 on Softball America's preseason top-25 rankings.
“I’ve never experienced that before in my career here, and I truly feel like this is just such a special team and a special group of people.” The 2026 Gators softball team is as tightly knit as ever before.
As the season approaches and Florida softball looks to return to the Women’s College World Series for the 14th time, three Florida stars were named to the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award watch list.
Some familiar faces are returning to help the Gators. Kendra Falby and Kara Hammock are set to return to the Florida Softball team as student assistants, head coach Tim Walton announced Friday morning.
The Gators tote the No. 2 ranked signing class in the nation.
The Florida-Georgia rivalry extended from the gridiron to the diamond and from Jacksonville to Gainesville last spring as the Gator softball team squared off against the Bulldogs in a Super Regional showdown.
A trio of underclassmen stood out during Florida softball's exhibition match on Thursday. Here are the three players fans should watch out for heading into the 2026 season.
Rising senior third baseman Kendall Grover announced her transfer from Eastern Illinois to Florida for the 2026 season.
Solutions by The State News
