
For the first time in program history, the Florida Gators have won a series against the nation’s No. 1 ranked team. Florida (43-13, 14-10) claimed a 6-4 win in the regular season finale to clinch the series victory in front of 2,653 fans Saturday.
How It Happened:
The Gators got on the scoreboard early on with a Reagan Walsh sacrifice fly that scored Jocelyn Erickson in the first inning.
In the top of the second, Florida CF Kendra Falby robbed Cydney Sanders of a home run with a sensational leaping grab over the outfield wall.
Florida added two more runs in the bottom of the third as Korbe Otis hit a two-run double down the right-field line that scored Erickson and Taylor Shumaker.
The Sooners got one back in the top of the fourth with a solo blast by Sanders (who had been robbed by Falby in her previous at-bat).
In the fifth, Oklahoma once again got one back. The inning opened with a pair of base runners getting on and chasing Rothrock from the game. A sacrifice fly plated a run and closed the gap to within one.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ava Brown crushed a solo homer behind the pitching lab in left to make it a 4-2 ballgame. Florida would add a pair of extra insurance runs as Falby scored on a passed ball that didn’t get far from the catcher, but her feet first slide kicked the ball out of the catcher’s glove. That was followed by an erant throw home that allowed Brooke Barnard to score and increase the lead to 6-2.
The Sooners weren’t done yet, though. Gabbie Garcia hit a two-run homer to center to close the gap to 6-4. Oklahoma got two more runners on base before Brown forced a groundout to first to end the ballgame.
Shumaker (2-3) and Kenleigh Cahalan (2-3) were the only Gators to record multiple base hits but Erickson (0-1, 3 BB) scored twice. Walsh and Otis each finished with two RBI.
In the circle, Keagan Rothrock received the start in a rematch of Thursday’s starters. Rothrock (W, 12-5) tossed four innings allowing two runs on five hits and striking out three. Brown (S, 4) entered the circle in the fifth inning and completed the final three innings of play.
The Sooners had only four at-bats (1-4) all game with runners in scoring position.
On Deck:
Florida receives a first round bye in this week’s SEC Tournament. The Gators will open postseason play Wednesday in Athens, GA.

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