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No. 1 Texas secures series over No. 3 Florida in Gainesville

by:Tara Henry•about 10 hours
Screenshot 2025-03-15 at 6.26.41 PM
Courtesy of Texas Athletics

The second game of the Texas-Florida doubleheader was an all-out slugfest, as both squads combined for 25 hits. Teagan Kavan picked up her 11th victory of the season and second of the day in relief as the third pitcher to enter the game for the Longhorns.

No. 1 Texas secured their first SEC series victory on the road in Gainesville with a 13-7 victory over Florida.

In the bottom of the first, the Gators struck early. Kendra Falby led off with a double to left-center, and Korbe Otis drew a walk to put two on. A passed ball on a 2-0 count moved both runners into scoring position. Jocelyn Erickson followed with a walk, loading the bases for Regan Walsh, who blooped a single to left field to give Florida a 1-0 lead.

That knocked Texas starter Citlaly Gutierrez out of the game in the first frame as Mac Morgan entered in relief. Kenleigh Cahalan grounded out to third, but Mia Williams drew a bases-loaded walk on a full count, extending the lead to 2-0.

Texas was retired 1-2-3 in the second, as Florida’s Ava Brown cruised through two solid innings of work.

In the third, Kaydee Bennett struck out on an off-speed pitch, but Ashton Maloney blooped a single between short, left, and center. Kayden Henry then doubled over the center fielder’s head, putting two runners in scoring position. Mia Scott delivered a clutch three-run home run to left-center, putting Texas ahead 3-2.

Texas kept the momentum in the fourth. Katie Cimusz singled to shortstop. Katie Stewart snapped her hitless streak with a single to center, drawing an eruption from the dugout and crowd. Maloney walked, but Williams made a great play at second to force out a runner at home. Still, Scott worked a bases-loaded walk for her third RBI of the game, followed by Atwood getting hit by a pitch to force in another run, extending the lead to 5-2. Joely Mitchell drew another bases-loaded walk, making it 6-2 Texas.

The Gators answered in the bottom half. Williams reached on an errant throw, Gabi Comia singled through the right side, and Rylee Holtorf bunted for a hit to load the bases for Falby. The leadoff hitter smacked a single to left, cutting the lead in half. Kavan would enter for Morgan and rebounded by striking out Shumaker on an offspeed pitch and forcing Otis into a shallow flyout to right. However, Erickson then launched a deep fly ball to left-center, clearing the bases after it tipped off Henry’s glove. A single up the middle gave Florida a 7-6 lead.

Texas didn’t trail for long. In the top of the fifth, Cimusz blasted a solo shot to center field, tying the game 7-7.

The Longhorns kept rolling in the sixth. Scott led off with a walk, Goode singled, and Cimusz crushed her second home run in as many innings, reclaiming the lead at 10-7.

Olivia Miller entered for Hammock with two outs and runners on first and second, facing the top of the Texas lineup. She gave up an RBI single to center, and Henry doubled down the left field line to score two more, pushing the Longhorns’ lead to 13-7.

In the seventh, Florida’s Falby flashed the leather, robbing Cimusz of what would have been her third home run of the game.

Tough with Two
The Longhorns thrived under pressure in game two. Texas hit a staggering .571 (8-for-14) with two outs, making it difficult for Florida to escape innings unscathed. The Gators struggled defensively, and Texas capitalized on every mistake.

Notable Streaks

  • Texas is the only school with three pitchers boasting 30 or more career wins.
  • The Longhorns extended their winning streak over Florida to four games.

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