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Florida Softball Weekend Wrap-Up: Gators finally tested, but don’t break

By Benjamin Henderson

Jun 4, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Florida Gators head coach Tim Walton looks on during the first inning of a NCAA Women's College World Series game against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma State won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 4, 2022; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Florida Gators head coach Tim Walton looks on during the first inning of a NCAA Women's College World Series game against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Oklahoma State won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Heading into the weekend, the Florida Gators had to wonder if softball games had more than five innings. Florida softball won their first six games by a combined 74-5, with all six games ending after five innings due to mercy rule.

But then on Saturday the Gators had their first challenge of the season. It wasn’t always pretty, but Florida emerged from the T-Mobile Tournament with a perfect record still intact.

Florida Softball: Bend don’t break

Florida opened up their home tournament against UConn. The Huskies are a respectable enough squad that went 38-18 last year and had wins over Missouri, Penn State, and Boston College.

The Gators were done with them in two hours and four minutes after a six-run 3rd inning powered Florida to a 9-1 mercy rule. In that inning, Florida scored four of their six runs via a bases-loaded walk.

Bowling Green was next to take chances against Florida. The Falcons are another respectable enough side that was 34-21 last year. Maybe it was the 10:30 AM start time, but Florida fell asleep at the wheel. After shooting out to 4-0 lead after two innings, thanks in part to a Skylar Wallace triple, the Falcons were able to score four runs in the 3rd inning off pitcher Oliva Gigante.

Avery Golez responded with a double in the bottom of the third and Florida was back up 6-4. but Bowling Green took the lead 7-6 in the fifth after posting three more runs, this time off Samantha Bender.

Charla Echols hit a bases-loaded double to score three runs and put Florida up for good as Elizabeth Hightower came in and cleaned up the rest of the game to avoid disaster.

The scare against Bowling Green carried over into a rematch against UConn. This time Rylee Trlicek took the mound for Florida softball and her day wasn’t much better than Gigante’s or Bender’s day. Trlicek gave up three runs in three and a third innings and the Gators entered the bottom of the fourth inning down 3-0.

Golez clawed back two run in that inning with a double, but the Gators were still trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Wallace walked and stole second. UConn tried to play checkers and intentionally walked Echols. Florida played chess and had Christina Wellen pinch run for her. Wellen too stole second.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Sam Roe was the hero with the single to right field as the Gators were able to walk it off.

Sunday was back to normal for Florida as the Gators pounded Central Michigan 15-1 and Delaware State 15-0.

At 11.8 runs per game, Florida currently has the highest scoring team in the country. The competition will ramp this week when Florida travels to California to take on Cal State Fullerton, UCLA, UC Riverside, and Oregon as part of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.

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