No. 6 Gators coast past FAMU to open NCAA softball regional play

GAINESVILLE — Sophomore star Taylor Shumaker and No. 6 Florida made short work of Florida A&M, continuing the Gators’ dominance at home during their opening game of NCAA softball regional action.

Shumaker finished with three hits, including a three-run homer, and five RBI; senior catcher Jocelyn Erickson added three hits, two of them doubles; and Keegan Rothrock struck out six Rattlers in three innings as the top-seeded Gators (49-10) coasted to a 12-0 mercy-rule win Friday in five innings over the Rattlers (32-21).

“It was a good way to kick off the tournament,” Erickson said. “We hope to take that energy into the rest of the tournament.”

FAMU, the regional’s fourth seed after winning the SWAC tournament, was no match for Florida, which moved to 34-1 at home during NCAA regional play since 2012 — the last time coach Tim Walton’s team lost a regional in Gainesville.

Batting in the lead-off spot, Shumaker hit a pair of RBI singles as Florida staked itself to an 8-0 lead after three innings. The Gators’ centerfielder put the finishing touches on the UF rout with a three-run shot, her 17th home run of the season, in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Hitting in the No. 2 spot, Erickson’s double in the opening inning set the tone for a 12-hit day for the Gators. She went on to score Florida’s first run on a double by shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan.

“That’s what they’re here for. That’s why they bat 1-2,” Walton said of Shumaker and Erickson. “Those guys were trained to be here for that, so proud, yeah, but that’s their job.

“They came out, and they did it really well.”

Rothrock was also on point coming off eight days of rest after she yielded five runs in four innings during a 10-9 SEC Tournament win against Auburn. Her bid for a perfect game ended when her pitch hit designated hitter Samantha Smith to open the third inning, but Rothrock (27-6) was otherwise flawless.

“She was locked in and ready to go,” Erickson said.

With the game in hand, Walton replaced Rothrock with Katelynn Oxley to rest his ace for Saturday’s 10 a.m. meeting with the winner of No. 2 Texas State (38-20) and No. 3 Georgia Tech (30-27) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Meanwhile, FAMU starting pitcher Zoryana Hughes struggled with control from the outset, leading to coach Brittany Beall to come out during the first inning to conference with the junior from Lake City.