The Florida Gators softball team rebounded from Saturday’s loss with a 6-4 win over Alabama on Sunday, advancing to the Women’s College World Series semifinals. It marks the program’s first trip to the semifinals since 2017.
That season, UF finished as the WCWS runner-up for the third in school history. Now the Gators have a chance to keep competing for a national title after an impressive performance by sophomore catcher Jocelyn Erickson.
Erickson’s three-run homer proved to be the difference against the Crimson Tide. With Florida up 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning with two outs, Erickson launched a 260-foot home run to give the Gators a four-run lead.
Erickson, the SEC Player of the Year, Gold Glove Recipient, Diamond Sports/NFCA Catcher of the Year and Softball America Defender of the Year, finished 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI and her team-high 15th of the season.
Erickson tied the game at 1 with an RBI single in the third inning. UF junior infielder Reagan Walsh also had two RBI, including a single up the middle in the fifth to put Florida in front 3-2 before Erickson’s home run.
The Gators got another strong outing in the circle from freshman Keagan Rothrock. She pitched a complete game and struck out five batters and allowed seven hits, tossing 95 total pitches with 66 strikeouts.
The post Florida Gators advance to WCWS Semifinals for first time since 2017 appeared first on On3.
