After an electric season-opening win, the Gators have hit the road for five games over the next three days in Tampa for the USF-Rawlings Invitational. For Florida, it was imperative to start the tournament with a win.
The Gators (2-0) did just that, defeating the Illinois State Redbirds (1-3) 10-2 in six innings behind two RBIs each from sophomore pitcher/pinch hitter Keagan Rothrock, junior catcher Jocelyn Erickson and senior outfielder Korbe Otis.
Senior shortstop Rylee Holtorf started the scoring with an RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second.
Rothrock recorded the first hit of her collegiate career on a two-run single in the bottom of the third, extending Florida’s lead to 3-0.
Erickson and senior infielder Reagan Walsh hit back-to-back RBI ground outs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 5-0 ballgame. Junior infielder Kenleigh Cahalan hit a RBI single later in the frame that brought the score to 6-0.
That would be all for Redbirds sophomore starting pitcher Paige McLeod (0-2). She gave up six runs (three earned) on seven hits in four innings.
The Redbirds got on the board in the top of the fifth on a freshman Tatum Wolford RBI double. Senior Addison Masching notched an RBI foul out to conclude the scoring for Illinois State.
UF sophomore starting pitcher Ava Brown (1-0) collected the win, but allowed multiple runners to reach base in all but one inning. She pitched four innings and gave up two runs on six hits while striking out a career-high six batters.
Senior pitcher Kara Hammock came in relief for her first outing as a Gator. She pitched two shutout innings and gave up one hit with a strikeout.
From that point on, it was all Florida. In the bottom of the fifth, senior outfielder Kendra Falby hit a RBI single to make it 7-2, and Erickson hit a sacrifice fly to score the Gators’ eighth run of the game.
Otis wrapped up the scoring and the game with a two-run single to make it 10-2 in the bottom of the sixth, thus triggering a run-rule victory for UF.
UF continues the USF-Rawlings Invitational with a doubleheader on Saturday. It will take on Delaware at 12:30 p.m. and No. 22 Michigan at 3 p.m.
Contact Jackson Colding at jcolding@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Colding_Jackson.
Jackson Colding is a junior sports journalism major and the Spring 2025 softball reporter. He is in his second semester at the sports desk. In his free time, he likes playing hockey, soccer and going to the gym.
