Following the bottom of the third inning in a contest between the No. 6/8 Florida Gators and the Stetson Hatters, UF’s pitching continued to struggle.
The contest was tied at five runs apiece, marking the first time in program history Florida had allowed five runs against Stetson in their 22 all-time meetings. UF senior starting pitcher Kara Hammock gave up five runs in the contest, allowing the Hatters to set their single-game record for runs against Florida.
In the top of the fourth inning, Florida was searching for a response to flex its muscle against Stetson. UF went on to score eight runs in the inning to provide itself some offensive separation in the midweek contest.
The Gators (35-8) used the aforementioned offensive burst to defeat the Hatters (20-23) in five innings on Wednesday in Deland, Florida, 13-5. It was Florida’s fourth-straight run-rule victory over Stetson.
UF started the scoring in this contest in the top of the second inning. Senior first baseman Reagan Walsh led off the frame with a single. Two at-bats later, junior third baseman Kenleigh Cahalan followed with her ninth home run of the season on a two-run blast to right center field. Sophomore designated player Ava Brown, the ensuing batter, hit a solo home run to left field to solidify back-to-back blasts.
In the bottom half of the frame, the Hatters turned a leadoff single from senior catcher Dylan Anthony into a run. Sophomore shortstop Addison Foster hit an RBI infield single with two outs to score freshman pinch runner Alivia Talbi.
Florida responded in the following frame. After senior left fielder Korbe Otis hit a single to left field, junior catcher Jocelyn Erickson hit her 11th home run of the season on a two-run blast off the scoreboard.
The Hatters fought back in the bottom of the third, knocking out a pair of home runs to put Florida in unfamiliar territory. Freshman third baseman Amber Chumley hit a solo moon shot to left field with one out in the frame. Following back-to-back batters hit by pitches, Anthony hit a three-run homer to left center field to tie the contest.
Hammock was removed from the game following Anthony’s game-tying knock. She pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on six hits and striking out one batter. Sophomore pitcher Olivia Miller (4-0) relieved her, pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out two batters and giving up one hit.
Florida responded in the top of the fourth inning to put the contest out of reach. Following three straight walks to load the bases for Florida, Otis delivered in a prime spot.
She belted out a go-ahead two-run single to left field to give her team a lead it never relinquished. Erickson followed up by reaching on an error by Chumley to score a run, while Walsh hit a three-run blast to center field to give Florida a double-digit run tally.
The Gators loaded the bases once more later in the frame on a single, fielder’s choice and walk, respectively. To clinch the run-rule victory, Falby walked and Shumaker hit a walk-off sacrifice fly.
The Gators will look to get back on the winning track in SEC play this Friday, as they kick off a weekend series against the No. 19 Ole Miss Rebels. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. ET.
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.
