To start the doubleheader, UF softball faced a familiar foe. The No. 3 Florida Gators took on the Boston College Eagles for the second time in the Bubly Invitational, with this game having a much different feel.
In the first game, Florida needed its bats to save them, but on Saturday, it was a strong pitching performance that got the jump.
UF sophomore starting pitcher Keagan Rothrock (6-0) delivered in the circle with another shutout to help save her offense, which struggled at the plate for the majority of the game.
The Gators (13-0) used Rothrock’s strong pitching performance to defeat the Boston College Eagles (5-5) 3-0, and carried the momentum to defeat the Binghamton Bearcats (4-5) 10-2 in five innings shortly thereafter.
Rothrock dominated the first game, allowing just four hits and recording five strikeouts. Her command and control of the strike zone allowed her to shut down a lineup that UF pitching struggled against on Thursday.
Boston College freshman starting pitcher Bailey Kendziorski (0-3) delivered the best performance against the Gator lineup this season despite being tagged with the loss. She pitched six innings and gave up three runs on six hits.
Sophomore second baseman Mia Williams recorded two of the Gators’ six hits, and delivered the first of the game in the bottom of the third with a ground ball single to left field.
UF senior shortstop Rylee Holtorf broke the ice and followed with an RBI double she smashed to left center field.
The bottom of the fifth is when the Gators broke through offensively and earned much-needed insurance.
Williams drilled a single to center field for her second hit of the game. Holtorf followed, again,with a single to left field that Eagles senior left fielder Zoe Hines bobbled, allowing each of the runners to advance.
Senior center fielder Kendra Falby drove Williams home to score UF’s second run with a single off the glove of Eagles junior third baseman Janis Espinoza. Later in the frame, Otis hit a towering RBI sacrifice fly to left field to send Holtorf home and conclude the scoring.
However, the bats came alive against Binghamton in the second game. A four-run first inning allowed the Gators to get off to a typical quick start on the scoreboard.
Freshman designated player Layla Lamar delivered her first big Gator moment in the bottom of the first. With two outs and the bases loaded, she laced a two-run single to right field. Lamar and sophomore pitcher Ava Brown executed a double steal later in the frame to score the third Florida run.
Sophomore left fielder Cassidy McLellan hit an RBI single to score Lamar and conclude the four-run inning.
Freshman outfielder and reigning D1 Softball National Player of the Week Taylor Shumaker hit an RBI single to right field to score Falby in the bottom of the second for the fifth UF run.
In the bottom of the third, McLellan hit a three-run moonshot blast to right-center for her first home run of her collegiate career.
UF starting pitcher Ava Brown struggled in the circle once again. While she only gave up one run on a hit by pitch on Binghamton sophomore catcher Elisa Allen, Brown allowed multiple base runners in two of the three innings she pitched. She allowed three hits and struck out two batters.
UF senior pitcher Kara Hammock relieved Brown to start the top of the fourth. Binghamton scored its second run of the game on a single by junior left fielder Bella Farina. The ball was bobbled by Otis which allowed redshirt sophomore shortstop Akira Kopec to make it to home.
Hammock pitched the final two innings and gave up one run (none earned) and two hits.
Binghamton junior starting pitcher Olivia Kennedy (1-4) was tagged with the loss. She gave up eight runs in two innings pitched.
The Gators clinched the run-rule victory in the bottom of the fifth after junior infielder Kenleigh Cahalan hit an RBI single, and senior outfielder Korbe Otis ripped a single to second base to propel UF to double digit runs.
The Gators conclude the Bubly Invitational on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. against the No. 14 Duke Blue Devils, who the Gators defeated 9-0 on Friday.
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.
