Following a semifinal exit against the 2024 national champion Oklahoma Sooners in June, the No. 3 Florida Gators Softball team looked to start its 2025 campaign on a positive note. Senior left fielder Korbe Otis wasted no time putting the Gators ahead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first.
UF head coach Tim Walton had a message for his team heading into the game: “Enjoy the moment.”
The Gators (1-0) didn’t look back and defeated the North Florida Ospreys (0-1) 8-0 in five innings on Thursday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Initially, the top of the second spelled trouble for UF. Starting pitcher Keagan Rothrock (1-0) allowed the first two batters to reach base. On a 2-1 count, however, senior first baseman Reagan Walsh made a diving catch on a bunt to prevent the runners from advancing further. Following the play, Rothrock forced a ground out and a strikeout to escape the jam.
After her second inning scare, Rothrock cruised through the rest of the evening. She pitched four innings of two-hit softball while giving up no runs or walks, all while also striking out three batters.
Walton commended her performance during his postgame press conference.
“I thought Keagan threw really well, she was very efficient,” Walton said.
UF sophomore Ava Brown pitched the final inning and retired the side in order with two strikeouts.
While Otis put the Gators ahead in the bottom of the first, freshman right-fielder Taylor Shumaker helped to keep the Gators in front. Following sophomore second baseman Mia Williams getting hit by a pitch and senior shortstop Rylee Holtorf walking, Shumaker stepped into a tight spot for her team.
In the bottom of the second, she hit her first collegiate home run on a three-run blast to make it 5-0. After two more walks, North Florida starting pitcher Taylor Cook (0-1) was swiftly pulled from the game. Cook gave up five runs in one-and-two-thirds innings.
Shumaker said she kept her mindset relaxed heading into the at-bat where she hit her three-run homer.
“I even told my teammates — I was like ‘Hey, first at-bat is out of the way, that means I can just go in and play softball now,’” she said.
Shumaker also said she didn’t know her hit was a home run until she rounded second base. She was the first player to hit a home run in her first game at UF since Savana Kelly in 2005 against Florida Atlantic.
Walsh said she tries to help younger players by reiterating they are playing softball at Florida because they deserve to be there.
“Just knowing that you’re at the University of Florida you’re here for a reason and you’re a great player so nothing else matters,” Walsh said.
Senior center fielder Kendra Falby scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-0. Walsh hit a two-run home run later in the frame to make it 8-0.
While the Gators won the contest 8-0, they were held to just four hits on the night. Junior third baseman Kenleigh Cahalan recorded the only non-home run hit of the night for Florida.
The Gators take on Illinois State to kick off the three-day USF-Rawlings Invitational on Friday night at 7 p.m. in Tampa.
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.
