GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – The Gainesville Super Regional between Florida and Texas Tech delivered drama all weekend. Texas Tech took Game 1, Florida answered with a dominant Game 2 and Sunday\u2019s winner-take-all Game 3 decided who would punch a ticket to the Women\u2019s College World Series in Oklahoma City.<\/p>\n
Florida\u2019s season ended at home as Texas Tech pulled away for a 16-7, five-inning mercy-rule win.<\/p>\n
With the Gators facing elimination, head coach Tim Walton went back to Keagan Rothrock for her third start in three days, asking a lot of the junior in the weekend heat. Texas Tech struck first, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but Florida responded immediately. Senior Kendall Grover lined a ball into center to drive in Taylor Shumaker and Jocelyn Erickson, sparking the dugout and the crowd.<\/p>\n
Kenleigh Cahalan followed with a home run as Florida grabbed a 4-3 lead before play was interrupted by a rain delay.<\/p>\n
After the delay, Texas Tech regained momentum with a Mia Williams home run, her second of the series. Florida answered again when team captain Ava Brown went deep, her third homer of the series, tying the game and briefly shifting energy back to the Gators.<\/p>\n
From there, Texas Tech\u2019s offense took over, scoring unanswered runs to end the game early via the run rule. The loss closes the book on the careers of several Florida seniors, including Erickson, Grover and Cahalan, and the Gators\u2019 postseason run ends one win short of Oklahoma City. Texas Tech advances to the Women\u2019s College World Series.<\/p>\n