GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida broke open a close game in the middle innings to rout Texas Tech 10-2 on Saturday afternoon and force a decisive third game in their NCAA softball super regional.
The teams will play Sunday at a time to be determined for a berth in the Women’s College World Series. Texas Tech (56-7) was last year’s national runner-up, losing the championship series to Texas.
On Saturday, the Gators (52-11) jumped on Red Raiders starter Nijaree Canady two batters into the game. Taylor Shumaker drew a leadoff walk and Jocelyn Erickson followed with a home run to left-center field for a 2-0 lead.
The Gators then made it 3-0 in the third on Erickson’s RBI single that scored Shumaker.
The Red Raiders got that run back in the bottom of the inning on Jasmy Burns’ sacrifice fly.
But Florida didn’t let up, adding a two-run homer from Madison Walker in the fourth, chasing Canady. Then in the fifth. Florida got a two-run single from Kenleigh Cahaln, an RBI hit from Walker and capped the spurt with Ella Wesolowski’s RBI double for a 10-2 lead.
Canady gave up five runs in 3 ⅔ innings to take the loss while Florida starter Keagan Rothrock went seven innings for the complete game, allowing two runs on five hits.
Oklahoma scored seven times in the third inning and cruised past Mississippi State to force a third game in the super regional at Norman, Okla.
Lexi McDaniel had a pinch-hit, three-run homer and Isabela Emerling, Gabbie Garcia and Kendall Wells also drove in runs for the Sooners (52-9). Kinley Keller drove in the lone run for Mississippi State (42-19) in the sixth.