ATHENS, Ga. – The 12^th-ranked Florida softball team turned in a run-rule victory against No. 11 Georgia, 9-1 (5 innings), to open the series Friday evening at Jack Turner Stadium.

The Gators (38-11, 13-6 SEC) run-ruled the Bulldogs (36-12, 10-9 SEC) for the seventh time in program history thanks to seven hits, six walks, a pair of hit by pitches and five stolen bases. Skylar Wallace went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases. Wallace currently has 112 career stolen bases, which is just one shy of tying the Florida career record of 113 held by Kelsey Stewart.

The Orange & Blue immediately jumped out in front 3-0 thanks to a series of hits. Korbe Otis started the rally with a one-out double to the gap in right center, which was then followed by a Wallace hit-by-pitch to put a pair of runners on base for UF. Sophomore Jocelyn Erickson drove in Otis during the following at-bat with her 60^th RBI of the year on a double down the left field line.

The rally continued as Baylee Goddard drew a two-out walk to load the bases and Ava Brown drove in a pair of runs on when she drove the 2-2 offering from Shelby Walters (8-5) up the middle to score Wallace and Erickson.

Florida extended its lead out to 4-0 in the top of the third inning of play. Wallace led the frame off with a blazing line drive single back up the middle to center field and was able to advance to third on a wild pitch and a flyout to left. Reagan Walsh extended her hit-streak to 16 games and scored Wallace after she fought through a eight-pitch at-bat to deposit and RBI single to right field.

The Gators pushed their lead out to 8-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Ariel Kowalewski started the rally with a leadoff single up the middle and was moved into scoring position on a SAC bunt from Mia Williams. Kowalewski stole third before Falby reached via a full-count walk. Falby stole second and Otis loaded the base with a one-out walk to set the table for Wallace's two-RBI single back up the middle that scored Kowalewski and Falby and prompted a pitching change by Georgia to bring in Rile Orcutt in relief of Walters.

UF scored two more in the frame as Erickson scored Otis via her sixth SAC fly of the year on a fly ball to left field and Wallace capped the frame with her second stolen base of the inning as she streaked home from third.

Florida added one more run in the top of the fifth inning and took a 9-0 lead over Georgia. Katie Kistler and Kowalewski started the frame with back-to-back walks, which was then followed by a hit-by-pitch drawn by Williams to load the bases. Kistler was driven home later in the frame on a SAC fly to center field produced by Otis.

Georgia finally was able to break onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning with a leadoff solo home run from Jaiden Fields. The home run closed down the lead to 9-1, but freshman right-handed starter Keagan Rothrock (19-6) was able to close the door and preserve the run-rule victory without any further damage done.

Rothrock earned her 16^th complete-game of the season with the two-hit performance against the Bulldogs.

Florida and Georgia will meet for the second game of the series Saturday, April 27, at 11 a.m. ET with the contest set to be aired on ESPN2.

Notables:

• Korbe Otis extended her hit streak out to nine games after going 1-for-2 at the plate with a double and two runs scored.
• Jocelyn Erickson reached the 60 RBI mark with her RBI double in the top of the first inning.
  • Erickson now has 61 RBI on the season, which leads the SEC.
• Ava Brown extended her hit streak out to four games when she struck for a two-RBI single in the top of the first inning.
  • The Montgomery, Texas native now has eight multi-hit games on the year.
• Reagan Walsh pushed her hit streak out to 16 games after going 1-for-2 in this contest this evening.
• Skylar Wallace stole two bases in tonight's game and she now has 112 career stolen bases which is one shy of Kelsey Stewarts career record of 113.

 
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