Florida wins SEC Softball Tournament with 6-1 win over Missouri

Sunshine allowed for the SEC Softball Tournament championship game to be played on Saturday, setting up for an entertaining matchup between Florida and Missouri. Thanks to the long ball, the Gators can call. themselves SEC champions, winning 6-1.

Keagan Rothrock was incredible for Florida all afternoon, pitching a complete game. Just six Missouri hits and one walk meant they were getting on base at a good rate. But Rothrock was able to get out of jams when needed thanks to six strikeouts and saw just one run cross the plate.

Offensively, Skylar Wallace was one of the stars thanks to a home run in the sixth inning. Not having her best at-bats heading into the weekend, Wallace wound up with nine RBIs in the tournament — the most in SEC history.

“Just really trusting my preparation,” Wallace said when speaking to ESPN’s Holly Rowe postgame. “I don’t really think I’ve been in a slump, I just put too much pressure on myself. My mechanics have been good, my swing has been good. It’s really just trusting that.

“As a veteran out here, just want to be a good leader on the team, set the tone early from the jump. I did that and trusted the preparation I put in earlier.”

No matter the result, both teams were likely heading to the NCAA Tournament. The Gators do earn an automatic berth though, adding to the resume. When the bracket is revealed, seeing Florida as one of the top-16 teams is a good bet.

Winning the SEC Softball Tournament puts them squarely in contention to be in the top eight and potentially host through the Super Regionals.

Florida ties SEC Softball Tournament record with six championships

Not many have been more successful throughout the history of SEC softball than Florida. Saturday’s win meant the program had won its sixth conference tournament championship, tying Alabama’s record. The Crimson Tide’s titles have been a little more spread out while the Gators first won in 2008.

All of the success has come under head coach Tim Walton. Since taking over in 2006, the six SEC championships are accompanied by two national championships. Ironically, we have not seen the two fall in the same year.

Florida will be hoping that changes, with all eyes now turning toward a run to Oklahoma City. They can check the SEC off the list and now aim for the biggest prize in college softball.