Florida Softball does something it hadn't done for over a decade

Coming out of their 5-0 weekend in Tampa, one of the things we commented on for Florida Softball is that they had several chances to deliver a run-rule killshot but couldn’t find that one final hit to end their respective games early.

That was not the case on Tuesday as the Gators beat Jacksonville into oblivion and did something they hadn’t done in over a decade en route to a 20-0 win to move to 6-0 on the season. 

Florida beats Jacksonville 20-0

For the first two innings, Jacksonville was able to do just enough to keep Florida off the scoreboard. The Gators loaded the bases in the 1st inning but couldn’t score and had a runner in scoring position in the 2nd inning but also couldn’t score.

But in the 3rd inning and the second time through the lineup, Florida couldn’t make an out if they tried. Jocelyn Erickson walked, and Kendall Grover homered to take a 2-0 lead and open the floodgates. The next four hitters also reached before a fielder’s choice made it 3-0. 

Then seven more Florida hitters in a row reached, and in a flash, it was 10-0. Florida wasn’t done, and when Townsen Thomas hit a bases-clearing triple, the Gators left the middle of the 3rd up 14-0.

It was the first time since 2014 that Florida scored 14 runs in a single inning.

Since the run-rule doesn’t kick in until after the 5th inning, Florida tacked on six more runs in the 5th to end the night 20-0. The 20 runs scored by the Gators are the most they have ever scored against Jacksonville.

Thomas finished the night 2-3 with a walk and five RBIs. Erickson was 3-5 with two RBIs and Taylor Shumaker was 2-4 with two RBIs.

The Gators had four pitchers combine for five innings of work with five hits and no walks for zero runs on the night.

Florida will have a rematch with Jacksonville at home on Wednesday before hosting the Florida Classic over the weekend.