In a thrilling matchup, the 11th-ranked Florida softball team emerged victorious against the 12th-ranked Florida State team with a score of 15-13 after nine intense innings at JoAnne Graf Field.
Junior Kendra Falby delivered an outstanding performance, going 5-for-6 at the plate, including a game-winning solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, and sealing the victory with a game-ending double play in the bottom of the frame.
The Gators took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, capitalizing on a two-out rally. Skylar Wallace reached base after being hit by a pitch, followed by a single from Jocelyn Erickson. Reagan Walsh then drove in Wallace with an RBI single, and an error on the play allowed Erickson to score.
Florida State fought back to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning, but the Gators regained the lead 4-2 in the top of the second. The back-and-forth battle continued throughout the game, with both teams trading runs.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Gators broke the tie and extended their lead to 7-4, thanks to Falby’s leadoff single and an RBI double from Korbe Otis. Erickson added to the lead with a two-run home run.
Florida’s offense continued to dominate, pushing their lead to 11-4 in the top of the fifth inning. The Seminoles mounted a comeback, narrowing the gap to 11-7 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Gators seemed to secure the win with two more runs in the top of the seventh, but Florida State rallied once again, tying the game 13-13 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Ultimately, it was the Gators who emerged victorious, scoring two runs in the top of the ninth inning to secure the 15-13 win.
The game saw several notable performances, including Falby’s career-high five hits and four RBIs, Wallace’s record-breaking stolen base, and strong offensive showings from Walsh, Brown, and Otis.
With this win, the Gators look ahead to their final Southeastern Conference series of the regular season against No. 8 Texas A&M.