GAINESVILLE — Florida freshman slugger Taylor Shumaker ended her weekend stoop in record-setting vogue however not earlier than shortstop Rylee Holtorf confirmed why the Gators will likely be a tricky out in the course of the Girls’s School World Collection.
A stunning 2-run homer from Holtorf within the lineup’s No. 9 spot broke open a 1-0 recreation with Georgia within the fifth inning and set the stage for Shumaker’s 2-run blast two batters later to hold UF to a 5-2 win Sunday and again to the School World Collection for the thirteenth time underneath Tim Walton — and third look since 2022.
“That’s why I made the choice to come back to Florida,” mentioned senior heart fielder Kendra Falby, a local of the Tampa space. “I wished a possibility to have the ability to compete for a nationwide championship, and now I’ve the possibility to try this as soon as once more. It’s simply been an incredible journey, and we’re not executed but.
“I’m tremendous excited for what’s forward.”
No. 3 Florida (48-15) will face No. 6 Texas (51-11) at midday Thursday in Oklahoma Metropolis. The Longhorns received two of three in opposition to the Gators in the course of the common season, however sophomore ace Keagan Rothrock additionally sat out the collection with an harm.
Throughout the rubber match in opposition to Georgia, Rothrock was on level after she recorded simply three outs and yielded two solo house runs earlier than Walton changed her throughout Saturday’s 2-1 Sport 2 loss. Rothrock rebounded with six shutout innings Sunday till a two-run homer by left fielder Jaydyn Goodwin within the prime of the seventh inning.
It was too little too late for the Bulldogs as Walton moved to 7-0 throughout NCAA Tremendous Regionals.
“You’ll be able to’t measure resiliency,” Walton mentioned. “How did she bounce again right now? She simply did. Particular, actually particular, to have the ability to do what she’s in a position to do in that sort of strain, that sort of second.
“She dealt with it very properly.”
But Holtorf was the day’s huge shock.
The senior switch from the College of Washington entered the day 1-of-12 in the course of the Tremendous Regional earlier than she despatched an 0-1 pitch from Randi Roelling over the left-field fence for her sixth house run in 2025.
“Going into that at-bat clearly wasn’t the most effective weekend,” Holtorf mentioned. “However we’ve talked all 12 months in regards to the pitch that issues now’s a very powerful — so simply being within the second.”
Shumaker quickly upstaged her veteran teammate with yet one more show of energy and well timed hitting after going hitless in the course of the first two video games in opposition to Georgia (35-23).
The 18-year-old phenom completed 3-of-3 whereas her house run tied Brittany Schutte’s faculty report of twenty-two set in 2011. Shumaker’s 86th RBI matched catcher Jocelyn Erickson’s report set in 2024 when she earned SEC Participant of the Yr honors after transferring from Oklahoma.
“She’s electrical,” Falby mentioned of Shumaker. “What she’s executed this 12 months has been wonderful, and what she’s going to proceed to do. However I’ve confidence in each single particular person on this crew.”
The fifth-inning energy surge got here on the heels of a 71-minute climate delay in the course of the third inning, with Florida due up.
The rain was welcome aid on a blistering day at Pressly Stadium, the place temperatures reached the excessive 90s. When the groups returned to the sector, the Gators’ bats lastly caught fireplace after squandered alternatives.
Shumaker’s first hit of the weekend — a single up the center — scored Falby from second for a 1-0 lead. However after first baseman Reagan Walsh ripped a 3-1 pitch down the third-base line, Georgia coach Tony Baldwin changed Sport 2 winner Lilli Backes with Roelling after simply 16 pitches.
Roelling did sufficient to maintain the Gators in verify and proceed their frustration on the plate. A day after going 1-of-15 with runners in scoring place and leaving 13 on base, Florida had stranded 10 runners on base on the time of Holtorf’s homer.
“It was a bit of sluggish, however after we go, we go, and that inning we went for positive,” Falby mentioned following her remaining house recreation and 259th at UF. “That house run was large. I’m simply actually completely happy that she was ready to try this.”
Holtorf left Seattle for Gainesville to hitch Erickson, her former highschool teammate in Phoenix, the place they received a state championship collectively. The 2 hope their reunion now pays off with one other title.
“That is why I selected the Gators,” mentioned Holtorf, whereas sitting subsequent to Falby. “It’s by no means assured that we’re going to be on this place. It’s actually cool that now we have a possibility to finish our collegiate profession on the Girls’s School World Collection.”
Edgar Thompson may be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
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