Florida softball faced an historically difficult Southeastern Conference (SEC) schedule last season and never got ahead of the eight ball.
The Gators finished play in the conference 14-10 – one of its worst marks under coach Tim Walton. With a more manageable fare in 2026, SEC dominance could be on its way to returning to Gainesville.
UF nabbed its first home sweep since the 2024 season over Missouri this week to open SEC play 3-0 and extend the squad’s overall record to 26-1. That’s the program’s best start since 2017 when Florida started 29-1 – which is the last time it advanced to the Women’s College World Series final series.
Despite the sweep, the Tigers provided the Gators with a good fight. Florida needed Jocelyn Erickson home runs in the sixth and seventh innings of Saturday and Sunday’s games, respectively, to survive vs. a team that entered 7-13.
“I know one thing. When we started the series, we were both 0-0,” coach Tim Walton said. “Our team really wants to focus on us and segment this schedule.”
Here’s what we learned from the Gators sweep:
Keagan Rothrock is finding her groove
It didn’t start out great for Rothrock. She allowed three runs over the first four innings vs. Missouri and put the Gators in an early hole. For the next 10 innings she pitched, Rothrock allowed just one run.
Monday’s performance was her best of the season. She carried a shutout into the seventh inning and hurled five 1-2-3 innings to become the first UF pitcher since Hannah Rogers in 2011 to win all three games of a series. Rothrock came in the top of the 11th in Sunday’s win.
“She came in the game with a new role yesterday that she hasn’t had a bunch of times this year,” Walton said. “Today’s start was really efficient, and she didn’t give up a whole lot of free passes.”
With Ava Brown’s injury, Florida needs Rothrock more than ever to start the Friday and Sunday games of the series and go deep in them. She pitched complete games Saturday and Monday. Her injuries are always a concern, but Walton said he doesn’t coach scared of an aliment arising.
“Keagan takes care of her body. She spends a ton of time with our training staff,” Walton said. “If she gets hurt, it’s meant to be because she does everything right.”
Rothrock doesn’t view her role as any different. She’s been the ace of the staff since she walked onto campus two years ago.
“We’re still doing what we’re supposed to be doing in the bullpen, and all the little things to make sure we’re picking each other up,” Rothrock said.
Florida softball has the pitching depth to withstand Brown’s injury
Of course, a statement like that is relative. What worked vs. Missouri in early March likely won’t work in OKC in late May. The Gators need Brown back to hold a chance at contending.
However, UF’s staff did enough in her absence this weekend. Freshman Leah Stevens drew the nod Sunday, but Walton gave her a short leash. She was out of the game by the third inning after allowing three runs.
Olivia Miller entered and delivered a gem – going 7.1 innings of shutout ball. Rothrock said Miller’s outing gave her the chills, and Walton said the sweep wouldn’t have happened without her.
“She was essential to us winning yesterday. She comes in and just pitches okay, we’ll lose,” Walton said. “The thing I really liked about her was her composure. She kept locating the pitches better and better.”
Despite Miller’s success, the plan for the middle game of a series remains fluid. Walton noted that Miller likely won’t start, which means the ball will go back to Stevens, Katelyn Oxley or even Allison Sparkman.
“We got five pitchers, and I expect to use them all, so I don’t think that middle game is going to change all that much,” Walton said.
This problem isn’t anything new. With one less pitcher on staff in 2025, Florida navigated an injury to Rothrock that kept her out for a month. Walton attacking the transfer portal and recruiting to gain help in the circle is paying off.
The offense remains balanced
Pitching was always going to be the storyline of this weekend with Brown’s injury, but she plays both ways, and the Gators look quite alright without her on offense.
Ella Wesolowksi, who has replaced Brown in the lineup, homered on Saturday. Erickson hit two homers, and Taylor Shumaker and Townsen Thomas each added one.
In total, every Gator got at least one hit this weekend. The 14 runs over three games, however, is low for the team. A large reason for that? 27 runners left on base.
Thomas’ emergence continues to be giant bright spot. After gathering just two hits in her first four starts, the redshirt freshman is up to a .359 average with two homers and 22 RBIs.
Walton once again reminded all that Thomas is young and, honestly, hasn’t received the proper coaching at times.
“We have to be careful not to overcoach her and take the athlete out of her,” Walton said. “I challenged her, though, to play faster and not be afraid to make a mistake.”
The Gators hit the road for the first time in SEC play Friday at Kentucky. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. ET.
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. 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’s pitching depth comes in handy in sweep of Missouri
Reporting by Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
