No. 8 Florida Softball Run-Rules No. 17 Alabama Behind Falby, Shumaker

The No. 8 Florida Gators run-ruled the No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide 12-4 on Friday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

After starter Ava Brown made quick work of the Crimson Tide (31-17, 8-9 SEC) in the top of the first, the Gators (38-10, 10-7) got things started right away in the bottom of the frame. Freshman Taylor Shumaker started things with a solo shot to right field. It was her 15th long ball of the season.

GATORS STRIKE FIRST ☄️ x @shumaker_taylor

Shumaker goes yard to give the Gators an early lead!#GoGators pic.twitter.com/F0ovB15uJ2

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 18, 2025

In the bottom of the second inning, Kendra Falby hit a two-run single and Rylee Holtorf stole home on a double-steal to extend Florida’s lead to 4-0.

In the top of the fourth, Alabama made it a one-run ballgame thanks to a three-run home run from Salen Hawkins. It was her first of the season. Later in the inning, Alabama tied things at four apiece after an RBI single from Kali Heivilin.

The Gators grabbed the lead back in the bottom of the fourth by putting five runs up on the scoreboard. Falby and Reagan Walsh each delivered RBI singles, while Shumaker and Jocelyn Erickson came through with RBI doubles.

ANOTHER ONE x @ReaganWalsh17

: SEC Network | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/gZ66SanqUz

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 18, 2025

Shumaker wasn’t done causing damage at the plate. In the bottom of the fifth, Shumaker recorded her third hit and second home run of the game, this time a walk-off three-run nuke. This sealed a 12-4 run-rule victory over Alabama.

TAYLOR. SHUMAKER. x @shumaker_taylor

: SEC Network | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/RM7Go1rjVk

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 18, 2025

“I was just kind of in a new mindset,” Shumaker said. “I had a lot of hard conversations with my coaches just about going up to the box and trusting what I have and trusting my teammates that are gonna do the job around me.”

Shumaker had just one home run over the last 21 games heading into Friday’s matchup. Shumaker recorded a six-RBI game for the second time this season.

“Honestly, I think that I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, because I feel like having success at the beginning of the season puts a lot of pressure (the rest of the season),” Shumaker said. “I was kind of feeding into that, which isn’t really normal of something that I do. Just being able to get back into the right head space and just trust the process and trust myself was really important.”

Falby also finished the night with three hits. The 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner now has 28 RBIs on the season, a single-season career best. Falby is hitting a team-best .477.

“I know that Kendra is somebody that keeps me very level-headed,” Shumaker said regarding Falby, who hits right ahead of Shumaker in the lineup. “To be able to have somebody that is older and obviously has more way experience than me, give that trust and put that trust into me and kind of have my back, it makes my job a lot easier. It honestly makes the game more fun.”

Brown pitched 3.1 innings while giving up six hits, four runs (three earned) and four walks. The 2023 National Softball Gatorade Player of the Year also made noise at the plate. Brown got on base twice with a double and a run scored. Katelynn Oxley (6-4) recorded the win in pitching 1.2 innings while allowing no hits with no runs and just one walk.

Alabama starter Catelyn Riley got pulled after just one inning. The senior gave up four hits, four runs (three earned) and one walk. Alabama’s bullpen pitched the remaining 3.1 innings while giving up seven hits and eight runs. The Crimson Tide offense has six hits and left eight runners on base.

The Gators had 11 hits and showed consistent hitting throughout the contest. Florida scored runs in every inning except the third.

Next Up

The rubber matchup of the series will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. (ESPN2). The first 500 fans in attendance will receive a Tim Walton bobblehead.