UF SB: Rothrock Shuts Out No. 11 Alabama to Open Series

Freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock is the first freshman to ever throw a complete-game, one-hit shutout against Alabama.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The 13th-ranked Florida softball team defeated No. 11 Alabama, 2-0, behind a complete-game, one-hit, shutout hurled by freshman Keagan Rothrock to open the series Saturday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.

The Gators (20-3, 1-0 SEC) and the Crimson Tide (19-2, 0-1 SEC) were locked into a pitcher’s duel for the entirety of the contest but Rothrock (9-2), the talented UF right-hander, held UA to just one hit through seven innings of work and is the first freshman in program history to achieve the feat.

UF managed three hits total in the contest, but tallied two clutch ones when it took the early lead in the opening game of the series against UA in the top of the second inning. The rally was started on an infield error charged to Kenleigh Cahalan on a grounder hit by Jocelyn Erickson to short to lead off the inning. Erickson was moved over to third on Reagan Walsh’s sixth double of the season when she ripped Kayla Beaver’s (7-1) 1-1 offering to center field.

However, it was freshman Ava Brown who drove the pair home with her two-out, two-RBI single that scorched a path up the middle of the Alabama infield.

Rothrock received help from her defense over the course of the seven-inning affair to retain the one-hitter. Kendra Falby robbed an extra-base hit from leadoff hitter Abby Duchscherer in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Erickson erased Lauren Johnson, who picked up the lone Alabama hit in the bottom of the fifth, when she tried to steal second base with two outs. It’s the seventh time in eight attempts this season that Erickson has thrown out a base runner.

Finally, Mia Williams knocked down a hard ground ball headed up the middle of the infield and guided it over to Skylar Wallace at second base for a force out which kept Alabama out of scoring position for the entire day.

The two teams will return to Rhoads Stadium for game two of the series Sunday, March 10, at 6 p.m. ET with the contest set to be aired on SEC Network.

Notables:

* Shutouts
* With the 2-0 shutout it’s the 15th shutout of the season for Florida, which leads the nation.
* It’s the first time UF has shutout Alabama since April 16, 2021 when UF also won 2-0. This is only the eighth time in program history that the Gators have shutout the Crimson Tide.
* This is the first time a Florida freshman pitcher has produced a complete-game shutout of Alabama.
* One-Hitter
* Rothrock’s complete-game one-hitter is only the third time in program history that a UF pitcher has held Alabama to one hit and she is the first freshman to ever achieve the feat.
* March 9, 2024 – Keagan Rothrock – Alabama – W, 2-0 – 1 Hit
* April 15, 2000 – Renise Landry – Alabama – W, 4-0 – 1 Hit
* April 12, 1997 – Chelsey Sakizzie – Alabama – W, 4-1 – 1 Hit
* Overall, this is the sixth one-hitter of the season for the Florida pitching staff and the 89th complete-game one-hitter in program history.
* Rothrock has only allowed five total hits since the home run by Oklahoma State (Feb. 19) which is a staggering 35 2/3 innings.
* Rothrock’s one-hitter is the first by a freshman against a nationally ranked opponent since Lexie Delbrey against No. 16 Michigan (Feb. 12, 2022).
* Scoreless Inning Streak
* Rothrock – 35 2/3 innings | Has not given up a run since Oklahoma State (Feb. 19)
* Longest scoreless inning streak since Kelly Barnhill (37 Innings – 2018)
* Hit Streaks
* Walsh – 6 Games
* Erickson – 3 Games
* Reached Base Safely Streaks
* Walsh – 11 Games
* Erickson – 3 Games
* Multi-RBI Game
* Brown – 3 Games
* Erickson threw out her seventh would be base stealer of the year when she threw out Lauren Johnson to end the bottom of the fifth inning. Erickson has only allowed one stolen base on the year and it was only the second time this season that Johnson was caught stealing.