Florida knocks off Loyola Marymount with come-from-behind, walk-off win in NCAA Regional

The Florida softball team knocked off Loyola Marymount in walk-off fashion to win the opening game of the Palo Alto Regional on Friday night.

The Gators entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing the Lions 2-1, needing a rally to keep out of the loser’s bracket. They delivered in style.

Utility player Pal Egan singled up the middle to score outfielder Christina Wellen from second base, capping the rally and a come-from-behind 3-2 win.

WALK-OFF PAL EGAN!! #GoGators

ESPN+ // 💻 https://t.co/j8kkQ6dNkM pic.twitter.com/N396afHZB6

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) May 20, 2023

Egan’s heroics were only possible, though, because of the batters in front of her. Florida entered the final frame of the game trailing by a run.

It didn’t take long for the Gators to knot things up. After seeing just one pitch, utility players Sarah Longley roped a home run to left field to tie it up 2-2.

A flyout followed, putting Florida down to two outs before extra innings would be required.

But infielder Reagan Walsh hit a single through the left side to reach base, and Wellen came on to pinch-run for her. Wellen was able to make it to second moments later when third baseman Charla Echols hit a single to the pitcher on a full count.

Egan quickly went into an 0-2 hole in the count before connecting on her game-winner up the middle.

The win moved the Florida softball team to the winner’s bracket in the Palo Alto Regional. No. 9 Stanford and Long Beach State were set to meet later in the evening.

Thanks to its late-game heroics on Friday night, Florida will face the winner of that game on Saturday at 5 p.m. ET.

The loser of the Stanford-Long Beach State game will face Loyola Marymount on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in an elimination game.

Florida softball advanced to the NCAA Tournament after going 36-20 overall, with an 11-13 mark in Southeastern Conference play.