No. 16 Gators Sweep Eagles & Ramblers to Open Bubly Invitational
Saturday’s schedule for day two of the Bubly Invitational has been altered due to unfavorable weather conditions.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 16-ranked Florida softball team defeated Georgia Southern, 8-0 (5), and Loyola-Chicago, 10-1 (5), Friday afternoon to open the Bubly Invitational at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Day two of the Bubly Invitational’s schedule was revised due to inclement weather entering the area and is detailed below.
The Gators (8-1) outscored the Eagles (4-3) and the Ramblers (5-1) 18-1 through the doubleheader and won each contest in run-rule fashion and have now run-ruled six of their nine opponents this season.
In the first game of the day against Georgia Southern, Kendra Falby started the game similar to most others throughout her career as she produced a leadoff infield single and stole second base to move into scoring position. The Odessa, Fla. native called upon her speed again and raced to third on a fly out to center field then scored later on via Jocelyn Erickson’s third SAC fly of the season to give UF a 1-0 lead.
Erickson came through again for her second RBI of the game with a shot to right-center that plated Skylar Wallace from second base after she doubled to the gap in left center during the previous at-bat.
Junior Reagan Walsh added to the tally with leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Walsh stretched the lead out to 3-0 after she blistered the 1-1 pitch and sent it over the bullpen in left field.
The Gators added two more in the bottom of the fifth innings to stretch their lead out to 5-0 over the Eagles. Erickson stepped to the plate with one out and crushed her first home run of the season and freshman Mia Williams followed up with her first collegiate hit as she ripped an RBI single up the middle that scored pinch-runner Avery Goelz from second base.
The Orange & Blue ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as Skylar Wallace delivered the final blow with a game-ending three-run home run to right center field. Freshman Cassidy McLellan led off the inning with her first career double, which was then followed by Falby’s career-high tying fourth hit in the game.
In the circle against Georgia Southern, freshman Keagan Rothrock (3-1, 1 SV) went the distance for the fourth time this year and tallied eight strikeouts. The Whiteland, Ind. native, only allowed two hits and two walks on just 91 pitches.
Florida’s offense was on display yet again in game two of the doubleheader as the team took an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning against Loyola. A defensive miscue trying to retire Korbe Otis on a stolen base at second allowed Wallace to scamper home for the first run of the game and Williams quickly stretched that lead out to 3-0 on a sharply hit two-RBI single to right center field that allowed Ava Brown (4-0) and Otis to score.
Senior Emily Wilkie capped the scoring in the first frame with her two-RBI double to center field that pushed across both Williams and Walsh.
Loyola spoiled Florida’s attempt at its second shutout of the day in the top of the second inning as Abbie Gregus provided a solo home run to close down the lead to 5-1. Erickson wasted no time in stretching the Gators lead in the home half of the second inning as she tallied a pair of RBI with a single through the right side of the Ramblers infield.
Erickson finished her eight RBI day with a bases clearing three-RBI double down the right field line in the bottom of the third that pushed the lead out to 10-1.
Brown received the start in the circle for the Orange and Blue against Loyola and she hurled four-complete innings of work and allowed only three hits and one run. The Montgomery, Texas native also struck out five and walked two before being relieved by fellow freshman Olivia Miller in the top of the fifth inning. Miller closed out the final scoreless inning with a pair of strikeouts, a walk and a hit.
The Gators return to action Saturday, Feb. 17, at 10:15 a.m. against the College of Charleston.
Revised Bubly Invitational Schedule – Saturday, Feb. 17
Game 1: 8:00 AM – Georgia Southern vs. Loyola
Game 2: 10:15 AM – Florida vs. College of Charleston
Game 3: 12:30 PM – Florida vs. Georgia Sothern
Game 4: 2:45 PM – Loyola vs. College of Charleston
Notables:
* Falby’s four hits in the win over Georgia Southern ties her career-high, which she set last year against Mercer (March 10, 2023).
* She followed up with a 2-for-3 performance against Loyola and overall was 6-for-7 on the day with four runs scored.
* Mia Williams picked up her first collegiate hit in the win against Georgia Southern. It was an RBI single up the middle that scored pinch-runner Avery Goelz from second base.
* Williams followed up two-RBI base hit in the game against the Ramblers.
* Jocelyn Erickson went 2-for-2 with a SAC fly, an RBI single and her first home run as a Gator. She tallied three RBI in the win over Georgia Southern and a season-high five RBI after she went 2-for-3 in the win over Loyola.
* Erickson’s SAC fly was her third of the season and she entered the weekend ranked second nationally in the category.
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