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Friday saw the Florida Gators get walked off by the Texas A&M Aggies for only their second loss of the season. On Saturday, they made sure that didn’t happen again.
The No. 3 Gators returned to form against Texas A&M by dominating the Aggies 12-4 in a shortened six innings. It’s the team’s 18th run-rule victory of the season.
Bats Light Up
Florida (25-2, 1-1 SEC) regained its scoring touch after struggling offensively in Friday’s series opener, a 3-2 loss at College Station.
The Gators chased starting pitcher Grace Sparks out of the circle in the first inning after Jocelyn Erickson sent a three-run blast over the fence. Sydney Lessentine replaced Sparks, but it didn’t make much of a difference.
Two more Gators went yard over the course of the game. Mia Williams cranked a solo shot down the left field line in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, Reagan Walsh hit two homers in consecutive frames to reach double digits for the season.
💥 MIA M A S H 💥
her eighth home run of the season just stays fair!
💻: SECN+ | @Miawilliams2023 #GoGators pic.twitter.com/LH1yuWqZE0
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) March 8, 2025
In total, Florida had six extra-base hits to TAMU’s zero and everyone in the lineup save for Brown and Cahalan managed to get on base. It was exactly what the team needed after an unusual series opener where the bats went quiet against the Aggies (21-3, 1-1).
Defense Shines
Ava Brown didn’t have the strongest start against TAMU.
After allowing consecutive walks and failing to get the out at home due to an errant throw, the bases were loaded in the bottom of the first. Eventually, she was able to get out of the inning — but not before letting two runs score.
Although Brown remained shaky for the remainder of the game, giving up two more runs, she stepped up when the Gators needed her most and got the job done.
E4 | struck out the side ⛽️
ava is up to four strikeouts in four innings!
Gators 7 | Aggies 2#GoGators | @avajbrownn pic.twitter.com/j0JzBh8Dqp
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) March 8, 2025
Up by four, Florida found itself in a bases-loaded jam once again in the fifth inning. However, Brown was able to get the three outs with some help from the Gators’ defense.
Florida’s infielders were solid, getting some crucial outs even when Brown wasn’t at her best.
Takeaways
Friday’s game against TAMU was a grind where the Gators couldn’t get the offense going, and it came to bite them in the end.
However, on Saturday, the Gators came out with intensity, playing more like the powerhouse they have shown themselves to be all season. The Gators had contributions from nearly every player in the lineup and Walsh continues her hot streak after a bit of a lull early in the season.
More importantly, UF showed that it can dominate even against elite pitchers like Lessentine. She entered the game with a sub-1.00 ERA.
Up Next
The Gators will wrap up their series against Texas A&M on Sunday. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. and it will air on SEC Network+.
