Florida softball will begin its quest for its second straight trip to Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City when it faces Mercer on May 16 in its opening game of the Gainesville Regional.
The number three national seed Florida Gators (43-15) have made 12 WCWS appearances overall and won two national championships (2014, 2015) in 19 seasons under head coach Tim Walton.
This season, UF has been led by the batting of outfielders Kendra Falby (.434, 2 HR, 31 RBIs) and Taylor Shumaker (.380, 18 HR, 76 RBIs). Pitching-wise, four different pitchers have won eight or more games for UF, led by Katelynn Oxely (8-5, 2.59 ERA), Ava Brown (10-3, 2.66 ERA) Keegan Rothrock (12-5, 3.34 ERA) and Kara Hammock (9-1. 3.36 ERA).
Mercer (38-24) earned an NCAA Tournament bid by winning the Southern Conference Tournament. The Bears are led by infielder Tori Hedgecock, who is batting .355 with 16 home runs and 62 RBIs.
Florida softball beats Mercer
Florida softball finishes off Mercer 8-0 in five innings on an RBI single by Jocelyn Erickson with the bases loaded. The Florida Gators advance in the winner’s bracket and will play Florida Atlantic on Saturday at noon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Florida softball tacks on more runs in the fourth inning
Florida softball tacks on two more runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking a 7-0 lead on a two-RBI double from Mia Williams, who is 2-for-2 with two doubles and 3 RBIs on the afternoon. Florida 7, Mercer 0 top 5.
Florida softball extends lead in third inning
Florida sends 10 players to the plate in the bottom the third, scoring five runs to take a 5-0 lead. After Shumaker’s two-run homer, Mia Williams and Kenleigh Calahan followed with RBI singles, and Ryle Holtorf laid down a bunt RBI single to score a runner from third base. Florida 5, Mercer 0 top 4.
Florida softball gets on the board
Florida takes a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third. After Kendra Falby leads off the inning with a walk, Taylor Shumaker follows with a two-run homer, lacing a 2-1 pitch over the wall in right center field for her 18th home run of the season
Florida softball changes pitchers, gets out of jam in third
After Florida starter Kara Hammock loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third, Florida softball coach Tim Walton turned to Ava Brown, who got out of the jam when Korbe Otis made a running catch in left field for the third out. Gators 0, Mercer 0, mid 3rd.
Florida softball vs Mercer still scoreless
Florida softball and Mercer remain scoreless after two innings. The Gators had a scoring opportunity in the second inning, loading the bases with two outs, but shortstop Rylee Holtorf flew out to center field to end the inning.
Mercer softball starting lineup
Langford CF, Wiggs DH, Hedgecock 3B, Jones 1B, Daniels C, Harris LF, Rivers 2B, Dorval SS, Vigna RF. SP Pitts.
Florida softball starting lineup
Falby CF, Shumaker LF, Erickson C, Walsh 1B, Williams 2B, Brown DH, Otis LF, Cahalan 3B, Holtorf SS. SP Hammock.
Florida softball vs Mercer to start at 5:28
Florida softball vs Mercer will start at 5:28 p.m. ET due to the Georgia Tech-FAU game going into extra innings.
FAU beats Georgia Tech in Game 1 of Gainesville Regional
Florida Atlantic beats Georgia Tech 5-4 in eight innings in Game 1 of the NCAA Gainesville Softball Regional at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Kiley Shelton, the younger sister of Florida baseball SS Colby Shelton, delivers the walk-off RBI single for FAU in the 8th inning
Florida softball vs Mercer live score updates
This section will be updated as the game gets underway.
Florida softball vs. Mercer in 2025 NCAA Gainesville Regional: Start time
First pitch from Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium is set for 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Florida softball vs. Mercer in 2025 NCAA Gainesville Regional: Streaming
TV channel: ESPN+
Streaming: Watch ESPN, FUBO (free trial)
You can listen to it here. Live stats are available on Gainesville.com/sports/college.
Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida softball vs Mercer live score updates: Gators beat Bears in five innings.
Reporting by Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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