The Florida offense combined for 18 hits on the day, 11 for extra bases.
TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 3/2 Florida softball team closed out opening weekend with two wins over Georgia Southern, 4-0, and USF, 8-0 in five innings, on Sunday at the USF-Rawlings Invitational.
With the two victories, the Gators improve to 6-0 with four of their six wins coming in run-rule fashion.
Both Ava Brown and Keagan Rothrock tossed back-to-back two-hit complete-game shutouts, while the Florida offense combined for 18 hits on the day, 11 for extra bases.
Taylor Shumaker continued the hot start to her freshman season, hitting another two home runs against the Bulls, bringing her total to five.
Seven different Gators have hit 13 home runs through six games.
Game 1: Florida 4, Georgia Southern 0
Ava Brown made her second start and third appearance of the season in the circle against the Eagles.
After a lead off hit and a hit by pitch to open the game, the Gators turned their first double play of the season to keep Georgia Southern off the board in the first.
In the home side of the frame, junior Korbe Otis scored Taylor Shumaker with an RBI single, her fifth first-inning RBI of the season.
It remained a 1-0 Florida advantage until the bottom of the fifth when the Gator bats got hot.
Junior Jocelyn Erickson tallied her first home run of the season, a solo shot to right field, followed by an RBI ground-rule double for Mia Williams.
Brown followed with her first hit of the season, an RBI single, to give the Gators a 4-0 lead.
Brown shutdown the Georgia Southern offense in the seventh to close it, finishing the outing with three strikeouts.
She allowed just two hits and a hit by pitch in her fifth career complete-game victory and her first seven-inning shutout. Her other four complete-game shutouts were in run-rule victories.
Game 2: Florida 8, USF: 0 (5)
The Gators opened their in-state match up with a four spot in the top of the first.
Erickson, junior Kenleigh Cahalan, sophomore Mia Williams each had an RBI, while Otis scored on a USF fielding error.
Shumaker added another Florida run in the second, a solo shot and her fourth home run of the season, to give Florida a five-run advantage.
After a scoreless third, Falby and Shumaker opened the fourth with back-to-back home runs, Falby’s first of the season and Shumaker’s fifth, putting Florida up 8-0 and securing the run-rule victory.
Rothrock, who made her third start of the season, twirled her seventh career complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits and a hit by pitch. She also struck out five Bulls.
Notables:
* Sophomore Ava Brown has now tossed five complete game-shutouts in her career, but today’s performance is the first time she has tossed a seven-inning complete game. Her other four shutouts were in run-rule victories
* Brown’s five complete-game shutouts: at Jacksonville (2/13/24) – 6 innings, at North Florida (2/21/24) – 6 innings, vs. Colgate (2/24/24) – 5 innings, vs. Indiana (3/17/24) – 5 innings, vs. Georgia Southern (2/9/25) – 7 innings
* Keagan Rothrock has now tossed seven complete game shutouts – vs. Georgia Southern (2/16/24), vs. Lafayette (2/23/24), at Cal State Fullteron (2/29/24), vs. No. 18 UCLA (3/1/24), at Missouri
* Seven different Gators have hit 12 home runs through xx games – Shumaker (5), Reagan Walsh (2), Otis (2), Gabi Comia, Williams, Erickson and Falby
* Comia made her first career start as designated player against USF
* Falby’s solo home run was the sixth home run of her career and first of the season
* Falby is 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts this season. As a team, Florida is 14-for-15 on the base path
Up Next:
The Gators return home to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. match up with Jacksonville. For those unable to attend in person, it will be streamed on SEC Network+.
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