In its final midweek contest of the 2025 season, No. 8 Florida was looking to take care of business against the South Florida Bulls. Despite a run-rule victory in the first meeting between the two teams this season, Wednesday’s contest wasn’t appearing to be similar.
Heading into the bottom of the third, Florida was in unfamiliar territory. After scoring eight runs in total against the Bulls in its previous meeting, Florida was scoreless in the bottom of the third.
Florida, however, was able to gain momentum in the bottom of the third. It scored three runs and five six runs in the bottom of the fifth to run-rule the Bulls.
Florida (40-10, 11-7 SEC) used the three-run third inning to generate momentum and defeat the South Florida Bulls (36-13-1, 15-5-1 American) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in five innings 9-1 for its 23rd run-rule victory of the season. It was Florida’s first win against the Bulls in Gainesville in over two years, as it dropped last season’s meeting 7-4.
The scoring opened when senior shortstop Rylee Holtorf took a 2-0 pitch from South Florida redshirt junior starting pitcher Payton Dixon (17-6) and deposited it on the red roof of the bullpen for her fourth blast of the season.
“Every single spot you’re in (in the lineup) you have to compete, so whether I was hitting one, two or three, or this year hitting nine, I still have to compete off the pitcher,” Holtorf said.
With the bases loaded, sophomore second baseman Mia Williams was hit by a pitch to score senior center fielder Kendra Falby, and junior third baseman Kenleigh Cahalan hit an RBI single to end the three-run inning.
The Bulls were able to get on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning. WIth two runners on, junior center fielder Alivia Galligani hit an RBI single to right field for their lone run of the contest. That was all Florida freshman starting pitcher Katelynn Oxley (8-4) surrendered. She pitched five innings, giving up one run on three hits, while striking out two batters.
“She wasn’t great to start, I thought she was just OK, and then obviously, you can really tell by how much, how many fly ball, fly ball, fly ball, just how high her spin rate is,” Florida coach Tim Walton said. “She has got a high revolution, I thought she got good late.”
Florida, however, separated itself from the Bulls in the bottom of the fifth. Following a walk from senior left fielder Korbe Otis and a single from junior catcher Jocelyn Erickson, senior first baseman Reagan Walsh laced a two-strike pitch to center field for an RBI single. Two at-bats later, Cahalan hit her second RBI single of the contest to left field.
“First at-bat was terrible,” Walton said, emphasizing Cahalan’s improvement throughout the night. “The next two were great, two strikes got a rise ball and got above it, and obviously hit the drop ball to left field.”
Sophomore designated player Brown continued the onslaught, taking a two-strike pitch and hitting an RBI single for Florida’s sixth run of the contest. From there, three consecutive batters induced runs to clinch the run-rule victory.
The Gators face a tough test this weekend as they travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to take on No 10 LSU. Game one is scheduled for Saturday, with first pitch slated for 2 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.
