No. 8 Florida found itself in a much different spot against No. 10 LSU than their last. After winning by 10 runs on Saturday, Florida and LSU were in a pitchers’ duel between Gators sophomore Ava Brown and Tigers junior Sydney Berzon.
In the bottom of the seventh, LSU was able to land the final blow on Florida freshman relief pitcher Katelynn Oxley. Tigers junior catcher Maci Bergeron started the inning with a single to center field. Two at-bats later, LSU sophomore left fielder Jadyn Laneaux reached on a walk, putting runners on first and third with two outs.
LSU sophomore second baseman Sierra Daniel stepped up to the plate looking to win the game. From there, she took a 0-1 pitch and hit a ground ball to Florida sophomore second baseman Mia Williams, who bobbled it as Bergeron scored.
LSU (28-11, 10-10 SEC) used the walk-off hit to defeat Florida (41-11, 12-8) and even the series in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sunday 2-1. After scoring the most runs it’s ever scored against LSU on Saturday, Florida followed that performance by scoring just one in the second game of the series.
Florida wasn’t able to produce baserunners on Berzon (16-5), as she dominated the Florida lineup. She pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out four batters and walking four.
UF was only able to put multiple players on base in a single inning. With two outs in the first, senior left fielder Korbe Otis and junior catcher Jocelyn Erickson reached on consecutive walks, but Berzon was able to record her second strikeout of the inning.
Florida’s Brown (10-2) was able to contain the Tigers’s lineup, keeping her team in the contest. She pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on three hits.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers opened the scoring with a familiar offensive producer. LSU redshirt freshman first baseman Tori Edwards took a full-count pitch and hit a solo home run just out of the reach of Otis and over the left field fence. This was her 18th home run of the season, tying the record for most by an LSU freshman.
Florida was able to respond in the top of the fifth, as it had its most productive inning of the contest. Brown reached on a one-out walk, and freshman pinch-runner Kylie Shaw advanced to second on a groundout by senior shortstop Rylee Holtorf.
Senior center fielder Kendra Falby stepped up to the plate with two outs, looking to score Shaw. Falby took a 0-1 pitch and hit it off the center-field wall for an RBI double to tie the contest.
Oxley was able to get out of a multi-baserunner jam in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking over for Brown after she hit LSU junior center fielder Jalia Lassiter with a pitch. Oxley walked Edwards but was able to strike out Bergeron swinging, as she let out a loud yell after keeping the contest tied.
Florida will enter a rubber match on Monday, as it seeks to win its fourth-straight series against the Tigers. First pitch is slated for 7 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.
