Florida Softball: Gators need just one run to move on to the winner's bracket at WCWS

For almost four innings, it looked like some ghosts that haunted Florida Softball early in the season had returned during their opening game at the Women's College World Series.

And while the Gators didn't exactly eviscerate those ghosts, one big swing of the bat is ultimately all Florida's offense needed to move on to the winner's bracket on Saturday.

Florida Softball: One Big Fly

Heading into the 5th inning, Florida hasn't recorded a hit. This mirrored a theme we saw early in the season when the Gators were having problems hitting Power Five pitching. Included in that stretch was their 3-0 defeat to Oklahoma State back on February 19.

But keeping Florida in the game was Keagan Rothrock, who herself had only allowed two walks and a single through the first five innings.

In the bottom of the 5th, Katie Kistler stepped up and got Florida's first hit. Rather than waste time hoping someone who drive her in, Kistler hit the ball 277 feet to put the Gators up 1-0.

Rothrock continued to mow down Oklahoma State and when all was done, Kistler's home run was all the Gators needed to emerge with the 1-0 victory.

Florida gets the day off today and will move to face Texas on Saturday at 7 PM on ESPN. The winner of that match up will move on to Monday and be just one win away from advancing to the championship series. The loser will be sent to a loser's bracket game on Sunday and will have to win three in a row to make it to the championship series.