Under the clear skies of Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, most of Saturday had been difficult for the No. 3 Florida Gators.
Having already dropped the first game of its weekend series, UF sat in a 7-7 tie in the top of the sixth inning of the second game, looking to salvage a split of the doubleheader. That was until Texas senior first baseman Katie Cimusz stepped up to bat.
A walk by senior third baseman Mia Scott and a single by junior shortstop Leighann Goode set up Cimusz with a chance to make an impact. She took a one-ball pitch and lifted it into the clear skies, over the left center field fence for a three-run blast.
This blast solidified a sweep by No. 2 Texas in the doubleheader, as No. 3 Florida dropped the first game 7-2 and the second game 13-7 on Saturday.
The first leg featured dominance by the Longhorns at the plate and in the circle. UT redshirt junior left fielder Ashton Maloney hit a two-run double to left center field that opened the scoring in the top of the second.
However, UF responded in the bottom of the third. Senior center fielder Kendra Falby reached base on an error by Goode. Subsequently, freshman right fielder Taylor Shumaker singled to center field to place UF runners on second and third. Next up, senior left fielder Korbe Otis lined an RBI single to left field to tie the game, but Shumaker was thrown out trying to reach third from first.
The subsequent frame spelled trouble for UF and freshman pitcher Katelynn Oxley (3-2). Longhorns junior second baseman Kaydee Bennett reached on a walk, while Maloney singled and sophomore center fielder Kayden Henry got to first on an error by UF senior shortstop Rylee Holtorf, loading the bases for the Longhorns with one out. Scott drove in two runs on an RBI single to right field. The following batter, junior catcher Reese Atwood, hit a three-run moon shot to blow the game open.
Oxley struggled for UF, allowing six runs (five earned) in four innings of work while only striking out two batters. Sophomore pitcher Olivia Miller pitched the final three innings, letting in one run on two hits.
Down by five runs, UF needed a spark. In the bottom of the fourth, designated player Ava Brown lined a single to right field to load the bases. However, UF was able to score just one run on a fielder’s choice by Holtorf.
Texas sophomore starting pitcher Teagan Kavan (10-1) contained the UF lineup early on Saturday afternoon. She pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out five batters. Senior pitcher Mac Morgan recorded the save for the Longhorns, pitching the final 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
The second game spelled more of the same early on. After UF took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single from senior first baseman Reagan Walsh, the Longhorns fought back. Following singles by Maloney and Henry, Scott hit another blast to left center, a momentum-swinging home run to give the Longhorns the lead in the top of the third.
However, UF did not go down without a fight against the Longhorns. Facing a 6-2 deficit, Florida fought back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring five runs. Falby laced a single to left field for UF’s first run of the frame. Following a strikeout by Shumaker and a flyout from Otis, Erickson was placed in a tight spot. Facing two strikes, she knocked a bases-clearing double to left center field to bring UF even. Walsh capped off the inning with an RBI single.
Cimusz hit one of her two blasts in the contest to immediately respond, as she launched a line-drive home run to center field in the top of the fifth. The Longhorns were not done after Cimusz’s second blast blast in the top of the sixth. Sophomore left fielder Katie Stewart and Bennett each singled to set up Maloney. She knocked one to center, and Henry followed up with a two-run double that was scorched to left field.
UF sophomore starting pitcher Ava Brown (6-1) struggled in the second game. In three-and-one-third innings, she gave up five runs on seven hits. Senior pitcher Kara Hammock relieved her, and allowed seven runs in the contest.
UF will look to avoid the sweep against the Longhorns on Monday, with first pitch slated for 7 p.m.
Contact Jackson Colding at jcolding@alligator.org. Follow him on X @Colding_Jackson.
