LEXINGTON, Ky. \u2013 Behind the program’s second-biggest Southeastern Conference Tournament comeback victory, the No. 3-seed Florida softball team (48-9) defeated Auburn (27-28), 10-9, on Thursday afternoon at John Cropp Stadium.<\/p>\n
With the win, the Gators advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals, where they will face No. 2-seed Alabama at 5 p.m. on ESPN.<\/p>\n
After hitting a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth, Jocelyn Erickson<\/a> became the fifth Florida player in program history\u00a0to hit 50 or more home runs as a Gator, joining Lauren Haeger\u00a0(71), Megan Bush (65), Francesca Enea<\/a>\u00a0(61) and Kelsey Bruder (52).<\/p>\n Kendall Grover<\/a> went 3-for-4, her second three-hit game against Auburn this season, driving in three runs, including a solo home run, her 11th of the season, a new single-season career-best.<\/p>\n Taylor Shumaker<\/a> recorded her eighth game with three or more hits, going 3-for-4 with a pair of runs.<\/p>\n Leah Stevens<\/a> (5-1) picked up her first career win over an SEC team, getting the Gators out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth with back-to-back outs.<\/p>\n Keagan Rothrock<\/a> earned her fifth save of the season. The junior started the game, pitching the first four innings, before getting the final three outs of the seventh inning.<\/p>\n She allowed five earned runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts.<\/p>\n NOTABLES:
HEAR FROM THE GATORS\u2026 On her game-tying home run… FOLLOW THE GATORS<\/a>
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\tFlorida’s largest comeback at the SEC Tournament was on May 8, 2019, in College Station, Texas, against South Carolina. The Gators trailed 4-0 after five innings and then scored six unanswered to take a 6-5 win
\n\t
\n\t\tThe Gators also had a three-run comeback against Tennessee after the top of the first inning on May 8, 2009 in Knoxville. Florida went on to score 11 unanswered runs to win 11-3 in five innings
\n\t
\n\t
\n\tJocelyn Erickson<\/a> has hit 20 home runs this season, tied for fourth-most in a single season
\n\t
\n\t\tWith two RBIs in the win, Erickson now has 71 RBIs this season, tied for fourth-most in a single-season. She has now recorded 70 or more RBIs in two of her three seasons at Florida, including her sophomore season in 2024 when she had 86
\n\t
\n\t
\n\tTaylor Shumaker<\/a> now has 85 hits on the season, tied for 10th-most in a single-season with Kendra Falby<\/a> (2022)
\n\t
\n\t\tShe has also scored 81 runs, third-most in single-season in program history
\n\t
\n\t
\n\tAva Brown<\/a> reached in three of her four plate appearances, recording a single and drawing a pair of walks. She extended her hit streak to seven games
\n\tTownsen Thomas<\/a> recorded her 11th double of the season, bringing Florida’s total to 106, the second-most doubles in a single-season in program history
\n\t
\n\t\tThe school single-season record is 112 doubles set in 2024
\n\t
\n\t
\n\tAs a team, the Gators have now hit 99 home runs this season. If Florida hits one more home run, it will be the third-straight season with 100 long balls
<\/p>\n
\nOpening statement\u2026
\n“I thought the Gators did a really good job of bouncing back today. We showed a lot of resilience. A couple of times we got the lead, went down in the game and then came back again. I thought we really did a good job getting leadoff runners on base in five of six innings. It wasn’t our best game, but at this point in time, as we talked about, it’s a win or go home type mentality. Your best doesn’t matter. It’s about getting a W and I thought we did a good job and did everything we needed to get that W today.” \u2013 head coach Tim Walton<\/a><\/p>\n
\n“It was really fun. I was just trying to do anything for my team to get some momentum going. The whole game, they were punching and we had to punch back. I think just our mentality of being gritty and going pitch by pitch, piece by piece and batter by batter really helps us be more in the moment. \u00a0I was just trying to barrel the ball up and get something going for my team.” \u2013 senior Jocelyn Erickson<\/a><\/p>\n
\nFloridaGators.com<\/a>
\nFlorida Softball on Twitter<\/a>
\nHead Coach Tim Walton<\/a> on Twitter<\/a>
\nFlorida Softball on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n