With an 11 a.m. first pitch, you’d think the beverage of choice for Florida softball vs. Auburn in the SEC Tournament would be a strong coffee.
Instead, it was a beer.
Because the Thursday morning showdown was drunk.
The Gators defeated the Tigers 10-9 at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky, in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The two squads combined for 18 runs, 22 hits, five errors and 10 walks in a thriller-of-a-game.
Runs were scored in all but two full innings. The first was scoreless for both teams, but the dam broke in the second.
Both squads scored a run each, and the Tigers added three in the third on a Ma’Nia Womack double. Coach Tim Walton pulled Keagan Rothrock in favor of Olivia Miller, and the Gators responded with four of their own – as they were unearned.
One run each was traded in the fourth, and after a scoreless fifth, Auburn ate into Olivia Miller in the sixth as AnnaLea Adams hit a three-run homer to tie an SEC Tournament record with six RBIs. It was just Miller’s second long ball allowed this season.
Florida, though, wasn’t done with its dramatics. After a nearly month long “slump,” Jocelyn Erickson finally hit her 20th home run of the season and 50th as a Gator to score Taylor Shumaker and tie the game at eight. Kendall Grover’s single a few batters later gave UF the lead, and Ella Wesolowski added a massive insurance run on a single of her own.
That’s because Adams hit her second homer and set the new tournament record with a two-out, solo home run. Rothrock, who re-entered for the seventh, got Womack to strike out looking to end the Tigers season.
Auburn finishes the season under .500 and will miss the NCAA Tournament despite a spirited run in the SEC Tournament. Florida, meanwhile, survives the feisty Tigers and will face the winner of No. 7 Arkansas vs. No. 2 Alabama Friday at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Florida softball vs Auburn 2026 SEC Tournament live updates
Ella Wesolowski adds another run | B6
A short single from the catcher scores Kenleigh Cahalan from second. Gators now lead 10-8.
Kendall Grover gives Florida the lead | B6
The Gators take advantage of an Auburn error and walk, and Kendall Grover brings home Townsen Thomas from second with a single. Florida retakes the lead once again in this wild game.
Finally No. 50 for Jocelyn Erickson | B6
The Gators catcher hits her first home run in nearly four weeks and breaks out of her long slump with a mammoth shot to right to score Taylor Shumaker, who singled to lead off the inning. She is now at 20 home runs for the season, and it’s her 50th as a Gator. That makes her the fifth all-time to reach that mark, along with Lauren Haeger (71), Megan Bush (65), Francesa Enea (61) and Kelsey Bruder (52). Game is now tied at 8, and Florida has first and second with no outs.
Odd play helps get Florida out of inning | T6
Walton brings in Leah Stevens to replace Katelynn Oxley with the bases loaded. She gets a ground ball, and as Kenleigh Cahalan was preparing to throw home, Haven Roebuck collides into her. Roebuck is called out, and Destiny Rodriguez is forced to go back to third. Stevens gets the last out, and the score stays at 8-6.
Auburn refuses to go quietly | T6
After two solid innings, Olivia Miller runs into serious trouble in the sixth. A walk and a single put two runners on with no outs for AnnaLea Adams, who hits a three run bomb. It’s only Miller’s second home run allowed this season, and Adams is now up to six RBIs on the game. Tigers now lead 8-6 in the top of the sixth.
Gators score in third straight inning | B4
Once again, this game proves it is drunk. Gabi Comia singles to lead off the fourth, and Jocelyn Erickson brings her home on Auburn’s second error of the game. Florida has the lead at 6-5.
Auburn ties game again | T4
Olivia Miller enters for Keagan Rothrock, and after getting the first out, she allows three hits. A passed ball makes the run unearned, but a McKaela Walker still brings it home on a single. Auburn now ties it up at five.
Wildness continues as Gators score four | B3
All of a sudden, Florida retakes the lead with a four run third inning. Townsen Thomas with a one out double to score Shumaker from third. Thomas and Ava Brown then score from second and third on a Kenleigh Cahalan walk that resulted in an Auburn error. Kendall Grover then brings home Cahalan from second, and the Gators take a 5-4 lead.
Auburn retakes lead | T3
In a wild top of the third, Rothrock allows three walks, a hit by pitch and two hits. She leaves the bases loaded after Townsen Thomas makes a phenomenal catch in left. But Auburn still tallies three, all on one hit. AnnaLea Adams doubled when the bases were loaded for the first time.
Kendall Grover ties it up | B2
After Womack’s homer, Kendall Grover responds with a solo homer to lead off the second. Grover was moved down to the sixth spot with Ava Brown at third.
Auburn strikes first | T2
Auburn’s power hitter, Ma’Nia Womack, hits her 15th home run of the season…a moonshot off Keagan Rothrock to lead off the second. Tigers take a 1-0 lead over the Gators.
Keagan Rothrock puts down Auburn | T1
Seven of Rothrock’s first 10 pitches were balls, causing a circle visit from coach Stephanie VanBrakle Prothro, but she regrouped and shut down Auburn without allowing a hit. Gators will now take the plate against Ella Harrison, who shut UF out in AU’s 4-0 win on April 18, but she’s starting for the third game in a row.
Florida softball vs Auburn 2026 SEC Tournament starting lineups
Florida
Keagan Rothrock is the starting pitcher.
Auburn
Ellia Harrison is the starting pitcher.
Start time for Florida softball vs Auburn in the 2026 SEC Tournament
First pitch is set for 11 a.m. (10 a.m. CT) from John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky.
How to watch Florida softball vs Auburn in the 2026 SEC Tournament
The game will air on the SEC Network with Amanda Scarborough and Kevin Brown on the call. On the radio, the game can be heard on 98.1 FM/850 AM WRUF with Ryan Urquhart and Nevada Cullen as announcers.
Florida softball SEC Tournament history
The Gators have won the conference tournament six times (2008, 2009, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2024) since its inception in 1997. That’s tied for most all-time with Alabama. Last season, the sixth-seeded Gators were eliminated in the second round by Ole Miss 6-4 in eight innings, their earliest exit in the Tim Walton era.
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida softball rallies past feisty Auburn in SEC Tournament classic
Reporting by Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
