Florida softball lost the opening game of the Gainesville Super Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders, 10-8, on Friday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The Gators mounted a furious comeback in the later innings, but fell short in the final frame in a game that saw some uncharacteristically sloppy defense from Florida.
Tim Walton’s team got on the board first on an RBI single in the bottom of the first before both teams went silent over the next two innings. The Red Raiders came alive in the fourth, plating three runs on RBI doubles and added four runs to their lead in the fifth with a pair of home runs.
Florida responded with three in the bottom half of that frame with back-to-back jacks from Ava Brown and Townsen Thomas, while Texas Tech got a run back in the top of the sixth on an RBI single. However, the Gators were not ready to surrender, tying the game up in the bottom of the sixth on homers off the bats of Madison Walker and Brown’s second round-tripper of the day.
Alas, Tech put two more on the board in the top of the seventh on yet another home run, to which Florida had no answer in the bottom half of the frame, resulting in Friday’s final score. It was the first time in five tries that the Red Raiders have beaten the Gators on the softball diamond.
Kegan Rothrock got rocked for three runs — none of them earned — over four frames on five hits, two walks and one hit batter while striking out just one before giving way to a trio of relievers. Olivia Miller lasted just 2/3 of an inning, surrendering four runs on four hits while walking and striking out none; Katelynn Oxley was saddled with the loss after surrendering three runs on three hits, a walk and two hit batters over 1 1/3 innings.
Leah Stevens threw a clean frame to close things out, but by then, it was too late.
Brown carried the Florida offense on Friday, going 3-for-4 with two dingers and five RBIs, while Kendall Grover also went 3-for-4 with an RBI double. The dynamic duo of Taylor Shumaker and Jocelyn Erickson at the top of the order was collectively 0-for-7, with the former reaching base on a walk and both crossing the plate once.
On defense, shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan was charged with a pair of errors and saw a couple of other balls bounce off her glove at inopportune times. Second baseman Gabi Comia probably should have been charged with one too, but instead her miscue resulted in a double that put the Gators in trouble.
Game 2 of the Gainesville Super Regional will take place on Saturday, May 23, with the first pitch slated for 12:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ABC.
FINAL: Texas Tech 10, Florida 8
Grover lines a single down the left field line to give the Gators a base runner with no outs before Cahalan strikes out swinging at a screwball off the plate after working the count full. Walker sends a routine fly ball into right for the second out and there’s only one more out left for the Orange and Blue.
Wesolowski works another full count before sending a soft liner to third to end the game.
Stevens gets Gators out of the seventh
Instead of Rothrock, right-hander Leah Stevens comes into the game down by two, with the bases empty and no outs. She gets Lis to hit a fly ball to left-center that the center fielder grabs for the first out before Burns gives the ball a run to the warning track in straightaway center, where Shumaker makes the catch for out No. 2.
Pannell flies out to deep left in foul territory to end the frame, but the damage has been done.
(M7: Texas Tech 10, Florida 8)
Red Raiders take lead back with 2-run homer
Oxley stays in the circle for the seventh only to issue a full-count walk to Quiroga, putting the winning run on first; meanwhile, Rothrock is back in the bullpen warming up. After issuing a first-pitch ball to Williams, Walton is back in the circle chatting with his pitcher; she serves up a two-run home run on the very next pitch — a low changeup.
And that’s it for Oxley.
(T7: Texas Tech 10, Florida 8)
Florida ties game with 3-run homer by Brown
Right-hander Kaitlyn Terry comes into the game and immediately puts McLellan on first with a hit-by-pitch, giving the Gators a baserunner with no outs and down three; Ella Wesolowski comes in to pinch run for her. Comia follows that with a single into left field, bringing up the potential tying run in the leadoff hitter Shumaker, who works a full count before swinging at a screwball outside of the zone for the first out.
Erickson comes up to the plate and goes down swinging on a perfectly-thrown 54 mph changeup for out No. 2. That prompts a coach’s visit to the circle as Brown walks up to the plate, who responds by sending the ball sailing over the left-center field fence to tie the game.
Thomas grounds out to shortstop on the first pitch she sees, but the Gators have knotted things up heading into the seventh.
(E6: Texas Tech 8, Florida 8)
Gators knock out Texas Tech’s starter with solo home run
Hallemann stays in the game at left field for Tech while Terry remains in for her sixth frame of work. Walker works a full count before sending Florida’s third home run of the day over the left field fence to claw that run surrendered in the top of the inning right back.
And that is it for Terry.
(B6: Texas Tech 8, Florida 5)
Red Raiders add a run on 2-out RBI single
Oxley remains in the circle for the Gators and gives up a line-drive single that goes over the leaping shortstop into left-center field on the second pitch; Logan Halleman comes in as a pinch runner for her. Pannell follows that by getting hit by an 0-2 pitch and the Gators are in trouble yet again.
Terry hits a fly ball to left field for the first out of the sixth before Davis hits a grounder to short that gets the lead runner, but no effort is made to get the runner at first for the double play. With runners at the corners and two outs, Walton comes out to the circle to talk strategy with the infield.
With the runner at first on the move, Allred pokes a routine grounder through the left-side hole that caught the shortstop moving toward second, plating the eighth run of the game for Tech — simply a well-executed hit-and-run. Toney flies out to left to end the inning, but not before the visitors stretched the lead back to four.
(M6: Texas Tech 8, Florida 4)
Back-to-back home runs breathe life back into Gators
Comia leads off the bottom of the fifth with a grounder to the shortstop that is played nicely off a short hop and thrown to first for the out. Shumaker follows by sending the first pitch she sees directly into the left fielder’s glove for out No. 2.
Erickson grounds a chopper to second, but the fielder boots the ball on a touch play, allowing the Gator to get to second for what is officially scored as a double. After two straight balls thrown to Brown, Tech’s coach comes out to the circle for a quick pep talk with Terry, but it was all for naught —Ava sends the ball over the left-center fence to breathe some life into Florida’s offense.
Thomas follows her with a solo shot on the very next pitch to give the Gators back-to-back home runs and cut the lead to three.
Grover hits a hard grounder down the third base line for a double to keep the rally going — that’s four extra base hits on four straight pitches for the Orange and Blue. But Cahalan ends the threat with a lazy fly ball to left for out No. 3.
(E5: Texas Tech 7, Florida 4)
Oxley ends the rally, but Gators are down deep
Tim Walton turns to right-hander Katelynn Oxley, who comes in with two outs and the bases empty, to try to stop the bleeding; it doesn’t start well, as she hits Williams with her second offering. She finally ends the inning by getting Lis to fly out to the left fielder in foul territory.
(M5: Texas Tech 7, Florida 1)
Texas Tech breaks game open with pair of home runs
Left-hander Olivia Miller takes over in the circle for Rothrock in the top of the fifth and gets Pannell to fly out to right field after bouncing back from a 3-0 count to work it full. Terry grounds the ball up the middle that the second baseman flips to the shortstop, who overthrows first base — but fortunately, the runner cannot advance.
Davis singles to left center, and now the Red Raiders have two on with one out. Allred breaks things open with a three-run homer over the centerfield fence to give Tech a five-run lead. It’s not looking good for the Orange and Blue right now.
Toney flies out to left for out No. 2 but the home runs keep raining as Quiroga sends a ball over the scoreboard in left-center to give the Red Raiders a six-run lead. And that’s it for Miller.
(T5: Texas Tech 7, Florida 1)
Gators get 2-out walk, nothing more in the fourth
Grover works a full count that brings Tech’s coach out to the circle before watching a called strike three on a pitch that nips the bottom of the zone. Cahalan grounds the first pitch she sees to third for the second out of the inning, but Walker draws a five-pitch walk to give the Gators a two-out baserunner after Terry had retired eight straight.
McLellan goes down swinging at a riseball at the top of the zone for out No. 3.
(E4: Texas Tech 3, Florida 1)
Texas Tech takes lead with 2-out rally
Cahalan gets eaten up by another groundball at shortstop for her second error of the game — this time off the bat of Terry — to give the Red Raiders yet another leadoff baserunner in the fourth. Davis lines out to straightaway center for the first out after running into the first baseman in an ugly collision on a foul ball.
On a 1-1 count to Allred, Florida’s pitching coach comes out for a brief discussion in the circle. Rothrock responds by striking her out after the count was worked full, but the runner advances on a stolen base as the catcher’s throw ends up in the outfield.
The Red Raiders tie the game on a hard grounder off Toney’s bat just inside the first base bag into right field that results in an RBI double.
After Quiroga works a full count, Texas Tech takes the lead on a hard grounder to the left side that the shortstop boots, allowing the run to cross the plate and sending the runner to second. That brings the coach out again for a quick talk.
… and it happens again in the exact same fashion. A hard grounder by Williams to the left side glances off Cahalan’s glove, allowing the third run to cross the plate and allowing the hitter to reach second. Florida’s typically dominant defense has been anything but this inning.
Lis sees four straight balls after an initial strike to take first base, but the rally finally ends with a liner off the bat of Burns straight into the second baseman’s glove.
(M4: Texas Tech 3, Florida 1)
Gators go down in order in the third inning
Erickson sends a fly ball to left on the first pitch that is caught right at the foul line for the first out. Brown watches a belt-level offering nip the outside part of the plate for the second out of the third inning. Thomas lines out to the third baseman to give Terry a 1-2-3 frame.
(E3: Texas Tech 0, Florida 1)
Red Raiders strand leadoff hit thanks to double play
The top of the third inning opens up with a shallow fly ball off the bat of Jackie Lis, which falls just short of the center fielder’s glove for a leadoff hit. Burns hits a grounder to second that results in a double play this time, giving Rothrock a much-needed boost.
So now with two outs and the bases empty, Pannell hits a soft grounder that is fielded by the third baseman right next to the pitcher’s circle and thrown to first for out No. 3.
(M3: Texas Tech 0, Florida 1)
Gators strand leadoff walk in the second inning
Madison Walker begins the bottom of the second by watching three straight balls before Terry rebounds to work the count full, but the Gators ultimately get a leadoff walk. Cassidy McLellan gets two strikes quickly called before going down swinging at a high riseball on the fifth offering; Gabi Comia lines out to the third baseman for out No. 2.
The lineup turns over, bringing Shumaker to the plate only to pop out to third to end the frame.
(E2: Texas Tech 0, Florida 1)
Florida escapes trouble again in the second inning
Tech starts the second inning with a soft groundout to the shortstop by Mihyi Davis, but Lauren Allred hits the first pitch she sees through the right side on a hard grounder for the Red Raiders’ first hit of the day. Haile Toney hits a grounder to shortstop that looked like a routine double-play ball, but an error by Cahalan puts runners on first and second with one out.
Texas Tech goes to a pinch hitter early on, sending Desirae Spearman to the plate in the No. 9 spot; she lines out to straightaway center for the second out of the inning. Williams flies out to shallow left field to kill the potential rally.
(M2: Texas Tech 0, Florida 1)
Gators take early 1-run lead in the first inning
Terry opens up the bottom of the first by walking Taylor Shumaker after getting worked to a full count. Ball three that forced the count full was probably a third strike, but the umpire didn’t think so, resulting in an 11-pitch leadoff at-bat.
Jocelyn Erickson pops out to the shortstop for out No. 1, but Ava Brown gets the first hit of the game on a grounder through the left side. With runners on first and second, Townsen Thomas tries to bunt on the first pitch before fouling out to the catcher.
Kendall Grover gets Gators on the board first with a low liner through the left side that plates the lead runner.
Kenleigh Cahalan grounds into a fielder’s choice to the shortstop to end the threat.
(E1: Texas Tech 0, Florida 1)
Rothrock escapes rough first inning
Kegan Rothrock opens things up by plunking Mia Williams with a pitch off her shoulder, giving the Red Raiders an early baserunner. She bounces back by getting Jackie Lis to pop up to the shortstop right behind second base on the outfield grass for the first out.
Jasmy Burns flies out to left field for the second out of the inning, but Tay Pannell draws a five-pitch walk to keep the inning alive. With two outs and a runner in scoring position, Kaitlyn Terry works the count full after an 0-2 start before flying out to deep center at the wall to end the frame.
(M1: Texas Tech 0, Florida 0)
Florida vs Texas Tech softball starting lineups
Florida Gators
Texas Tech Red Raiders
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What channel is Florida vs. Texas Tech?
Florida vs. Texas Tech will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 on Friday, May 22. Michele Smith, Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza and Holly Row will call the game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Florida vs. Texas Tech time
The Florida vs Texas Tech game starts at 11 a.m. ET from Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida falls short against Texas Tech in Gainesville Super Regional
Reporting by Adam Dubbin, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
