Gators Cap Off Florida Invitational With Fourth Run-Rule Win

No amount of singing from the first base dugout could save the Florida A&M Rattlers from the No. 3 Florida Gators softball team Sunday.

The Gators chomped their way to a 9-1 win in the final game of the Florida Invitational, its fourth run-rule win of the weekend in four games.

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A “Slow” Start

While most teams would be happy with scoring three runs in the second inning to take the lead, this was out of the ordinary for Florida (22-1). The team went scoreless in the first, despite top hitters Korbe Otis and Jocelyn Erickson coming up to the plate with a runner on. After retiring the side in the top of the second, the Gators were able to string together some hits in the second. With two runners on, Mia Williams hit a hard RBI single to second base to score the first run for the Gators.

Brooke Barnard then reached on an error and Rylee Holtorf walked with the bases loaded to bring in another run. Kendra Falby was safe at first on a fielder’s choice that scored Williams. While it wasn’t necessarily flashy, Florida ended the inning up by three.

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But, the Rattlers were not going down easy. In the top of the third, senior infielder Kiauna Watson got herself on base with a single. She forced an overthrow while stealing second that rolled back to the fence and willed her way all the way home for the Rattlers only run of the game. Florida got out of the inning with minimal blood shed, but was uncharacteristically sloppy throughout.

Walsh Out, Here She Comes

After a Erickson fly out to start the third inning, Reagan Walsh decided to take scoring matters into her own hands. She blasted the first strike she saw over the fence, smacking the red roof out in left field on the way to her fourth home run of the invitational. The Gators scored another on a Barnard single, increasing their lead to four runs.

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They kept the Rattlers scoreless in the fourth and knocked in another before the end of the inning to take a 6-1 lead.

Who Needs Power Hitting?

It wasn’t all home runs that led Florida to victory. In the fifth, Williams singled up the middle to score Kenleigh Cahalan, who had walked and stolen second. Williams advanced to second on a Makenna Bellaire single and later scored on a sacrifice fly.

Despite the two runs, Florida’s sloppy play made its way to the bases. On the sac fly that scored Williams, Bellaire tried to advance to third but to no avail. She was out by a mile, earning her a shake of the head from coach Tim Walton.

Florida wrapped up the game in the sixth, with Otis scoring on Walsh sacrifice fly to secure the run-rule win.

Sunday Funday ☀️#GoGators pic.twitter.com/lagHc38JTD

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) March 2, 2025

Pretty Pitching

Pitching remained a bright spot for Florida. Olivia Miller made the most of her start in the circle, picking up three strikeouts in four innings. She allowed just two hits. Kara Hammock relieved her in the fifth and kept the Rattlers scoreless for the rest of the game. She picked up a strikeout and didn’t give up a hit in her two innings pitched.

leaves em' scoreless in the fifth x @karahammock #GoGators pic.twitter.com/54AnjkUYqV

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) March 2, 2025

Takeaways

Against a better team, this game could’ve gone down as a Florida loss. The Gators looked fatigued and had sloppy moments all around. This may just be because it was the fourth game of the weekend, but this is a concern if you’re Walton. The team needs to keep the energy up, no matter how tired the players may be, if it hopes to be consistent against tough opponents.

Then again, Florida still won in six innings and by eight runs. The pitchers threw well and the offense was able to string together runs by moving runners over. This game is definitely not an indicator of what is yet to come for the Gators. But, it may be a warning that they need to stay focused against inferior teams.

Up Next

The Gators head to Texas to play Houston on Wednesday. The game will start at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Florida will stay in the Lone Star State over the weekend for a three-game series that opens SEC play against Texas A&M in College Station. The series will start on Friday night and carried on SEC Network+.