Saturday proved to be another day where a native Arizonian had a big performance in her home state. After practicing at her high school on Thursday, Jocelyn Erickson showed up in a big way at the plate.
The junior catcher recorded five RBIs in UF’s first game of the day against New Mexico State to propel Florida to victory.
Another Gator led the way in the second game against Grand Canyon. Junior third baseman Kenleigh Cahalan, a transfer from Alabama, blasted two home runs on the day, including a game-changing grand slam to best Grand Canyon.
The No. 3 Florida Gators (17-1) used these performances to defeat the New Mexico State Lobos 12-1 and the Grand Canyon Lopes (12-3) 6-4.
Erickson played a crucial role in Florida’s offensive output in the early game against the Lobos (9-7). She recorded five RBIs to boost UF’s offense.
She smacked a RBI single up the middle in the first, and hit two home runs later in the game. She blasted two moonshot home runs to right field. The first was a solo shot, and the second was a two-run blast.
Cahalan had her big moment in the second game against the Lopes. She hit a line-drive grand slam to right field to blow the game open in the top of the third. She also hit a two-run blast in the first game against New Mexico State.
Senior left fielder Korbe Otis blasted a long home run over the left-field fence against the Lopes in the top of the fifth.
Freshman right fielder Taylor Shumaker also got herself on the scoresheet in the first game by hitting an RBI single to center field in the bottom of the fourth.
The pitching, outside of one inning against Grand Canyon, was shutdown for the Gators. Against New Mexico State, freshman pitcher Katelynn Oxley (1-0) got her first start and pitched four innings. She didn’t give up a run and struck out three batters. Senior pitcher Kara Hammock pitched the final inning, and gave up one run on three hits.
UF sophomore pitcher Keagan Rothrock (8-1) started in the circle against the Lopes. She pitched five innings, and gave up four runs in the bottom of the sixth with two strikeouts. Sophomore pitcher Ava Brown closed out the final two innings and only allowed two hits to keep the Lopes scoreless.
Sophomore pitcher Alina Satcher had the big hit for the Lopes with a three-run home run off Rothrock.
The Gators conclude the Sun Devil Classic at 11 a.m. on Sunday against the Iowa State Cyclones.
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.
