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No. 11 Florida run-rules No. 18 Alabama to set up rubber match

by:Cooper Taylor•04/18/25
Screenshot 2025-04-18 at 5.09.27 PM
Courtesy of Florida Athletics

After using three pitchers in the series opener, No. 11 Florida turned to sophomore Ava Brown in the circle for Game 2. No. 18 Alabama countered with senior Catelyn Riley, making her second appearance of the weekend. The Gator offense started much better, leading to their 12-4 run-rule win.

Brown worked around a leadoff walk in the first to keep the Crimson Tide off the board. In the bottom half, Taylor Shumaker gave the Gators their first lead of the series with a one-out solo homer. Riley stranded a pair of runners to limit the damage to just one.

Alabama once again put a leadoff runner on in the second, but Brown held the Tide scoreless. Florida capitalized in the top half of the inning. Kenleigh Cahalan reached on an error and Brown doubled to put two in scoring position with no outs. After a walk loaded the bases, Kendra Falby delivered a two-run single to center to extend the lead to 3-0. Following a pitching change, with Braya Hodges entering for Alabama, a double steal allowed Rylee Holtorf to score and make it 4-0.

Both Brown and Hodges worked a scoreless third, but Alabama stormed back in the fourth. After a walk and a Larissa Preuitt single, Salen Hawkins then crushed a three-run homer—her first of the season—to cut the deficit to one. A throwing error and a Kali Heivilin RBI single tied the game at 4-4. Florida freshman Katelynn Oxley entered in relief and recorded a pair of pop-ups to escape the bases-loaded jam.

In the bottom of the fourth, Hodges walked the first two batters she faced. Falby then came through again, slapping an RBI single to regain the lead. Shumaker followed with a two-run double to right center, chasing Hodges from the game. Emily Winstead entered as Alabama’s third pitcher, but Florida wasn’t done. Cahalan lined an RBI double, and Reagan Walsh added a run-scoring single to cap a five-run frame and give the Gators a 9-4 lead.

Oxley returned in the fifth and retired the Tide in order. After a one-out single from Holtorf and another Falby hit, Shumaker ended the game with a walk-off three-run homer—her second of the night—to secure a 12-4 run-rule win. Shumaker finished with six RBIs.

The rubber match of the series is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

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