![Florida infielder Kenleigh Cahalan (31) rounds second after her grand slam home run during a NCAA softball game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Florida beat Jacksonville in their home opener 11-1, [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_121,w_2506,h_1409/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01khnza8sybc3z6s61h6.jpg "Florida infielder Kenleigh Cahalan (31) rounds second after her grand slam home run during a NCAA softball game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Florida beat Jacksonville in their home opener 11-1, [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]")
Two weeks into the 2026 season, and Florida Softball doesn’t have anyone ranked in the top 100 individually in batting average, on base percentage, or in the top 50 in slugging percentage. And yet, 12 games into the season, Florida is 2nd in the country in total runs and 7th in the country in runs per game, averaging 9.58 runs per game as part of their 12-0 start.
The key for Florida has been a conga line of hitters rather than one single stud in combination with a mix of power that can get runs home in a hurry. Kenleigh Cahalan, Gabi Comia, Jocelyn Erickson, Cassidy McLellan, Taylor Shumaker, and Madison Walker are all sitting with batting averages above .400. Then, mix in the fact that Florida’s home run leader is transfer Kendall Grover, who has five, and the lineup for the Gators is deep in 2026.
Now, as we noted yesterday, Florida has yet to take on the meat of its schedule, and it should have another simple week coming up. The Gators have two games against UNF, Longwood, and Middle Tennessee State, along with a single game against Lindenwood.
But if Florida’s lineup can keep it’s early season pace, a return trip to Oklahoma City feels like a real possibility in 2026.
Florida Baseball holds serve in polls despite loss
The D1 Baseball poll has the Gators at No. 12 entering week two of the season. That’s actually up one spot despite their loss to UAB on Opening Day. The Gators moved up ahead after Louisville dropped after the Cardinals lost their opening series against Michigan State.
It’s also not too shocking to see a lack of movement in the polls this early in the season.
While Opening Day was not great for Florida, their double header on Saturday got fantastic back-to-back starts from Aidan King and transfer Cooper Walls. The two combined for 11.1 innings pitched with just one earned run against.
Florida also got a huge Saturday from freshman Cash Strayer, who went 5-8 with two doubles and a home run over the two games on Saturday. His Florida debut earned him SEC Freshman of the Week honors.
The Gators will have back-to-back games against Stetson during the week before hosting a weekend series against Kennesaw State.