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Games between the two Sunshine State rivals have always been tightly contested — last time out, UF needed nine innings and a walk-off homer from Kendra Falby to edge the Seminoles.
This time, however, it wasn’t particularly close.
The No. 3 Gators gave up a home run in the first inning and spent the rest of the game playing catch-up before losing 4-0 to No. 7 FSU on Wednesday night in Tallahassee. It marked just Florida’s second shutout loss of the season, the first coming against UCF on March 12. It is the Seminoles’ 14th straight win.
Pitching Duel
It was a showdown in the circle, but in the end, FSU (34-5) came out on top.
The Seminoles boast the top pitching rotation by ERA in the ACC, with their ace, Ashtyn Danley (7-1) leading the way. She pitched four scoreless innings against the Gators, notching four strikeouts and — most notably — zero extra base hits.
Florida (33-6, 6-3 SEC) countered with Keagan Rothrock (9-2), but with the Gators’ offense having a quiet night, she needed to be perfect — and she wasn’t. In the first inning, the sophomore surrendered a three-run home run to Jahni Kerr, a blow that would loom over Florida for the remainder of the game.
To make matters worse, Kerr went yard once again in the sixth to push the game out of reach for the Gators.
https://twitter.com/FSU_Softball/status/1907579498041606288
Rothrock’s final stat line reflected three earned runs in six innings (as one was deemed unearned due to a fielding error). Solid, but not quite enough when the lineup provided no run support.
Gators Go Quiet
It was a night of missed opportunities at the plate for Florida.
The Gators came out strong in the first inning by quickly loading the bases and putting Danley in a tough spot with just one out. But two straight strikeouts killed their momentum and that lackluster energy lingered throughout the game.
UF’s best opportunity to even the score came in the fifth inning, with runners on first and second and Korbe Otis in the batter’s box. In a play that encapsulated Florida’s frustrating night, Otis smashed the ball into right field — straight into Hallie Wacaser’s glove. Wacaser then fired it to second to catch Taylor Shumaker out for a double play.
https://twitter.com/FSU_Softball/status/1907575373652488562
Even when Annabelle Widra came in as relief, Florida struggled to get the ball on the barrel. The team notched only four hits, tied for a season low.
Takeaways
This marks the second time in the past month that the Gators have been shut out. In both games, they failed to look competitive.
While UF is known for its powerful, high-scoring offense, the team has also proven it can grind out victories. Recently, however, the Gators have struggled to do either, a concerning trend as they move further into SEC play.
If there’s one silver lining, it’s that Rothrock, despite the three earned runs, has looked solid in her two starts since returning from injury. The rest of the team just needs to catch up.
Looking Ahead
The Gators face another SEC opponent in the form of No. 12 Arkansas (26-7, 6-6 SEC) on Friday. The game starts at 6 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. It is broadcast on SEC Network+.
