Despite an almost two-hour rain delay, fans showed out with excitement to support the Gators softball team in two games Friday.
In the fifth inning of the Gators' second game, freshman right-handed pitcher Keagan Rothrock made personal history.
Once she recorded her 13th strikeout of the evening, her teammates swarmed her around the circle and celebrated her first no-hitter in her collegiate career.
Rothrock said everything was clicking for her but a rise ball.
“Overall it was a good game, and Jocelynn did a great job catching,” she said.
Sophomore catcher Jocelyn Erickson said she doesn’t think about the no-hit record behind the plate. Instead, she trusts the talent.
Florida (12-2) defeated the Colgate Raiders (3-8) 13-1 and Lafayette College (2-4) 16-0 on Day 1 of the T-Mobile Tournament.
Dominating Colgate Win
The Gators delivered an explosive first inning with five hits, two home runs and six walks to jump out to an 11-0 lead in the first inning. Redshirt senior shortstop Skylar Wallace knocked in the first run after hitting a single to center field.
With two outs on the board, junior left fielder Korbe Otis stepped up to the plate. On the first pitch, Otis smashed a fastball over the right-center field wall for a two-run home run.
Continuing the momentum, Erickson delivered a solo home run, going back-to-back with Otis. The solo shot extended the lead to 11-0.
Despite the Raiders striking back with a pair of doubles in the top of the second, freshman left-handed pitcher Olivia Miller and the Gators defense retired the inning on a ground out.
The Gators added to their lead with a pair of runs off of an RBI double by senior catcher Emily Wilkie. Additionally, redshirt senior Baylee Goddard scored on an infield error.
With two outs on the board in the bottom of the fourth, freshman third baseman Alyssa Hovermale recorded her first collegiate hit as a Gator.
Graduate transfer Mackenzie Wooten subbed in to pitch to close out the fifth inning and the game via the mercy rule.
Lafayette Shutout
Florida cruised in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, delivering a 10-run first inning. With two outs on the board, senior right-fielder Katie Kistler drew a bases loaded walk to score Wallace.
On a 2-1 count, junior second-baseman Reagan Walsh blasted an outside pitch for a three-run home run over the left field wall. Wallace and Otis pushed across two more runs with back-to-back bases loaded walks to extend the lead to 7-0.
Florida continued the offensive momentum heading into the bottom of the second, scoring five runs. The inning was highlighted by freshman third baseman Ariel Kowalewski’s home run and Erickson’s double that scored two runs.
When the offense racks up so many runs, Rothrock said she tries to stay in touch with the game itself and not lose focus while waiting in the dugout.
By the end of the fourth inning, the Gators led 16-0, and Rothrock’s dominance ended the game in the fifth inning.
Next, the Gators will play a doubleheader Saturday back at home to continue the T-Mobile Tournament. UF will face Lafayette College at 12:30 p.m. and the Colgate Raiders at 3 p.m.
“We need to have the same game plan, especially at the plate,” Erickson said. “Staying patient, waiting for your pitch and not getting antsy.”
Contact Hailey Hurst at hhurst@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @haileyjhurst.
Hailey Hurst is a second-year journalism major with a focus in sports media and a sports reporter for The Alligator. In her free time, she enjoys going to the beach and cheering for Miami sports teams.
