It didn’t take a no-hitter, or a monster offensive showing, but Florida softball cruised past South Carolina to sweep the Gamecocks Sunday 6-1.
The Gators took an early lead for the second time this series and scored in the first inning with a Jocelyn Erickson double to score Taylor Shumaker.
Two innings later, Karley Shelton — sister of former Florida baseball player Colby Shelton — homered to tie the game. UF, though, took the lead right back after some clutch baserunning, a double from Madison Walker, and an error from the Gamecocks.
In the fifth, Kendall Grover put the game fully out of reach with a bases-clearing double.
Keagan Rothrock ran into some trouble at points in the circle. SC generated six hits and six walks to put runners on base in every inning besides the fifth, but it didn’t matter. The Gamecocks left 10 runners on base compared to Florida’s eight.
Olivia Miller entered for Rothrock with runners on first and second in the sixth and two outs. She secured the win.
The Gators have now won 16 of the last 17 series over SC, with 11 of 13 being sweeps. For this season, UF has now swept Missouri, Kentucky and the ‘Cocks in SEC play.
Florida outscored SC 26-3 over the weekend.
Florida softball vs South Carolina Game 3 live updates
Kendall Grover clears the bases | T5
A double from Jocelyn Erickson, a walk to Kenleigh Cahalan and a single from Townsen Thomas loads the bases for Grover, who takes advantage. 6-1 Gators lead.
Florida softball retakes lead | T4
A double from Madison Walker and Gabi Comia reaching on an error scores Kendall Grover and Cassidy McLellan to give Florida a 3-1 after South Carolina had scored its first run off Rothrock an inning prior.
Jocelyn Erickson drives in another run | T1
The Gators catcher drives in her seventh run of the series with an RBI single to score Taylor Shumaker from second. UF leads 1-0.
Florida softball vs South Carolina Game 3 starting lineups
Pitcher is Keagan Rothrock.
Florida softball vs South Carolina Game 2 recap
After two scoreless innings, Florida softball’s offense drank a shot of caffeine.
Make those 15 shots.
The Gators exploded for 15 runs over the next three innings to defeat South Carolina 15-2 in five innings to take the series over the Gamecocks. It’s the squad’s fifth conference series win, and the most runs scored in an SEC game in the 2026 season.
The Gamecocks struck first in that second inning with a home run from Tori Ensley and a double from Quincee Lilio.
The third inning saw the first and second of the four three-run home runs hit by the Gators. Jocelyn Erickson and Cassidy McLellan made it 6-2. Erickson went yard the next inning for another three-run bomb. She now is No. 4 all-time with 49 home runs in her Gator career.
Kenleigh Cahalan hit her 15th home run of the season an inning later. McLellan also finished with five RBIs of her own.
In the circle, Katelynn Oxley was pulled after the second inning, but Olivia Miller finished the job with three shutout innings.
The Gators have now scored 10 runs or more in four SEC games in 2026 and will look for the sweep Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
Florida softball vs South Carolina Game 2 live updates
Make that 15 unanswered for Florida softball | T5
The Gators offensive assault continues in Columbia as Kenleigh Cahalan joins the party with a blast of her own. It’s the squad’s fourth three-run home run of the afternoon and expands the lead to a massive 13-2. Set up by Taylor Shumaker’s single (second hit of the day) and Jocelyn Erickson’s double (third hit). UF once again tallied two more runs on a Cassidy McLellan single and an Ella Wesolowski fielder’s choice. It is now the most runs scored in an SEC game this season for UF.
Florida blows game open vs. Gamecocks | T4
It was deja vu for Jocelyn Erickson as she belted her second three-run homer of the day, once again with Gabi Comia and Taylor Shumaker on base. Cassidy McLellan came up later in the inning with two runners on. She didn’t homer this time, but she did single in a run to put the Gators up 10-2 and in run-rule position heading into the bottom of the fourth.
Gators respond with massive inning | T3
Two three run bombs put Florida up in a big way after allowing two runs in the second. After singles from Gabi Comia and Taylor Shumaker, Jocelyn Erickson hits a three-run homer. It’s her 48th home run of her Gator career, tying her with Reagan Walsh for fifth-most in program history. Two hits later from Townsen Thomas and Ava Brown, Cassidy McLellan put UF ahead 6-2. It’s her fourth home run in SEC play, but the first since the middle game of the Arkansas series two weeks ago.
Katelynn Oxley allows two for Florida softball | B2
Tori Ensley leads off the bottom of the second with a home run, and after a walk and hit by pitch, Quincee Lilio drives home another run on a double. Oxley did escape the inning with the bases loaded, but the Gators trail 2-0 after two vs. South Carolina.
Florida softball vs South Carolina Game 2 starting lineup
Katelynn Oxley (4-1, 3.83 ERA) is the starting pitcher.
Florida softball vs South Carolina Game 1 recap
Keagan Rothrock did something Friday night for the first time under the setting sun of Columbia, South Carolina.
The Florida softball ace hurled a no-hitter vs. an SEC squad.
The Gators junior fired her first no-hitter since February 29, 2024, and her first in a seven-inning game of her career as UF defeated the Gamecocks 5-0 in Game 1 of their SEC series.
Rothrock previously threw two no-hitters vs. Lafayette and Cal State Fullerton in February 2024 during her freshman season.
The Indiana native accomplished the feat on just under 100 pitches with four walks and six strikeouts.
At the plate, the Florida bats were slow for the first five innings with an RBI single from Cassidy McLellan the difference maker. In the final two frames, the offense finally awoke with two runs in the sixth off a McLellan walk and an Ella Wesolowski sacrifice fly.
An inning later, Townsen Thomas homered with Jocelyn Erickson on base after a double to make it 5-0 UF.
The Gators will look to take the series from the Gamecocks with Game 2 Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. from the Palmetto State. Katelynn Oxley is expected to get the start for the orange and blue.
Florida softball vs South Carolina Game 1 live updates
Florida softball plates a couple of runs | T6
Gators finally break out of their slumper at the plate thanks to a good eye. Kendall Grover, Ava Brown and Cassidy McLellan all take walks. The last one scores Townsen Thomas. Ella Wesolowski brings home pinch runner Kallie Matsuno on a sacrifice fly, but a throw out at home on a bunt from Gabi Comia and a groundout from Taylor Shumaker end the inning. Gators lead 3-0 with six more outs needed for a win.
Cassidy McLellan gives Florida softball early lead | T2
Back-to-back singles to begin the second inning from Townsen Thomas and Kendall Grover set up Cassidy McLellan to score Thomas on an RBI single. Gators lead 1-0.
Florida softball vs South Carolina Game 1 starting lineups
Pitcher is Keagan Rothrock.
Florida softball vs South Carolina start times
Game 1: Friday, April 10, 6 p.m. ET
Game 2: Saturday, April 11, 3 p.m. ET
Game 3: Sunday, April 12, 1 p.m. ET
How to watch Florida softball vs South Carolina
Games 1 and 2 air on the SEC Network. Game 3 will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Florida softball vs South Carolina history
The Gators are 55-24 all-time vs. the Gamecocks and 24-11 in Columbia. Under coach Tim Walton, UF has won 13 of 14 series against South Carolina. However, it hasn’t won a series in the Palmetto State since 2017. In 2023, SC took two of three from UF. A year later, the Gators took two of three. The two didn’t meet in 2025.
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 sweeps South Carolina behind Keagan Rothrock’s dominance
Reporting by Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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