Florida Gators

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The 11th-ranked Florida softball team defeated No. 12 Florida State, 15-13 (9 innings), in an offensive thriller Wednesday night at JoAnne Graf Field. Junior Kendra Falby turned in a career night as she went 5-for-6 with the game-winning solo home run in the top of the ninth inning and turned the game-ending double play in the bottom of the frame.

The Gators (40-12) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the Seminoles (40-11) thanks to a two-out rally in the top of the first inning. Skylar Wallace was clipped by the 2-2 offering from FSU starter Allison Royalty to put the first runner on base with two outs. Jocelyn Erickson then ripped a single up the middle to put runners on the corners and Reagan Walsh plated Wallace in the next at-bat on an RBI single to left field. In continuation of the play, Kaley Mudge threw the ball away on the throw back to the infield which allowed Walsh to advance to second and ultimately allowed Erickson to score later on the play.

Florida State bounced back in bottom of the second inning to tie the game 2-2 with a pair of extra base hits. Mudge made up for her error with a leadoff triple on a shot that was nearly robbed by right fielder Katie Kistler and was brought home moments later on Jaysoni Beachum's two-run home run to center field that tied the game. UF freshman pitcher Keagan Rothrock (21-6) settled in and was able to limit any further damage in the frame while picking up a pair of strikeouts.

Florida punched back in the top of the second to retake the lead 4-2. Ariel Kowalewski reached via a four-pitch walk with one out on the board to start the rally, which Mia Williams advanced her on a SAC bunt that also resulted in an error that allowed Kowalewski to move to third. Falby scored Kowalewski in the next at-bat on an RBI single up the middle and Korbe Otis loaded the bases when the 3-1 pitch from Royalty was off the mark. FSU opted to relieve Royalty from her duties in the circle with Ashtyn Danley, but Wallace added one more run to the scoreboard on an RBI groundout to first that plated Williams from third.

The Seminoles closed down the lead in the bottom of the second inning 4-3 via a SAC fly from Mudge that scored Amaya Ross, who tripled off the right field wall with one out during the previous at-bat. FSU went on to tie the game in the bottom of the third 4-4 thanks to a leadoff home run by Kalei Harding.

The tie did not last long as the Gators broke it in the top of the fourth inning and retook the lead 7-4. The frame started with a leadoff single from Falby, who notched her 24th multi-hit game of the year, and was driven home on Otis' RBI double to the gap in left center field. Erickson stretched the lead out to three as her second hit of the game turned out to be her 11^th home run of the season. Shortly after FSU brought in Emma Wilson in relief of Danley to pitch.

Florida's offense continued to press ahead in the top of the fifth and extended its lead out to 11-4. The frame started with back-to-back four-pitch walks drawn by Katie Kistler and Kowalewski, which then led to a hit-by-pitch drawn by Williams. Falby plated the first two runs of the frame with her third hit of the contest that was recorded as a two-RBI single to second base. Otis drove in her second run of the game as she plated Williams on a SAC fly to left field and Wallace capped the scoring as she scored Falby on a SAC fly to center field.

Florida State cut into UF's lead in the bottom of the sixth with three runs to bring the score to 11-7. The frame started with a leadoff walk issued to Michaela Edenfield, which was followed by a two-run home run by Jahni Kerr. UF brought in Brown to relieve Rothrock in the circle, but FSU managed to plate one more run via a bases loaded walk before the scoring concluded.

The Gators pushed their lead out in the top of the seventh with two runs that extended their lead out. Falby ripped her fourth hit of the game with a one-out double off the wall in left field and was quickly driven home on Otis' seventh home run of the season. The Littleton, Co., native drove the 1-2 offering off the top of the left center field wall.

The Seminoles roared back to tie the game, 13-13, in the bottom of the seventh inning with a six-run inning on four hits and a UF fielding error. A three-run home run by Harding tied the game after Rothrock had reentered the game to pitch for Brown.

Next up for the Gators is their last Southeastern Conference series of the regular season as the Orange & Blue will host No. 8 Texas A&M this Friday through Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. UF will recognize its six seniors Saturday, May 4, prior to the start of the second game of the series.

Notables:

• The Gators scored 15 runs tonight against the Seminoles, which marks the first time the Orange & Blue has scored 10-plus runs against FSU since April 16, 2008 when the program won 14-4 (5 innings) in Tallahassee and it's the most runs scored against FSU.
  • The 28 combined runs in tonight's game are the most runs scored all-time in the series.
• Kendra Falby tallied her team-leading 24^th multi-hit game of the year after going 5-for-6 at the plate tonight.
  • On the season Falby has 74 hits, which also leads the team.
  • Her five hits are a new career-high for the junior and her four RBI tie her career-high.
• Skylar Wallace drew a two-out hit-by-pitch and has now been hit 16 times this season, which is tied ninth all-time in a single season in UF history.
  • Wallace also set the new Florida record for stolen bases as she swiped her 114^th career base in tht top of the ninth against FSU.
    • The previous record of 113 stolen bases was held by Kelsey Stewart (2013-2016).
• Reagan Walsh collected a single in the top of the first inning to extend her hit-streak out to nine games, which ties her season high that she set earlier this season.
  • She has also now reached base safely in 19 straight games.
• Freshman Ava Brown tallied her seventh multi-hit game after she went 2-for-4 at the plate.
• Korbe Otis notched 16^th multi-hit game going 2-for-3 with a season-high four-RBI in tonight's game.

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