TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 6 Florida softball team opened the 2026 season with a victory over Illinois State on Friday evening, downing the Redbirds 7-0 at the USF-Rawlings Invitational.

The Gators used six different pitchers in a combined one-hitter, with the Florida pitching staff tallying 10 strikeouts on the night.

Keagan Rothrock picked up the victory in the circle, tossing four hit-less innings while striking out seven.

Cassidy McLellan had a career night at the plate, reaching base in all four plate appearances, going 3-for-3 with a walk.

Taylor Shumaker picked up where she left off in 2025, slugging the first Florida home run of the season, a solo shot in the third inning.

Six different Gators drove in at least one run in the win, led by Ava Brown who had two on the night.

With the victory, Florida has now won 20-straight season openers and improve to 20-1 under Coach Tim Walton in season openers.

NOTABLES:

• Today’s victory marked the second combined one-hitter in a season opener and 42^nd combined one-hitter overall by the Gators in program history
  
  
• Taylor Shumaker has now hit three home runs in her career at USF Softball Stadium

  • She hit two home runs vs. Michigan on Feb. 8, 2025, during last season’s USF-Rawlings Invitational
  • Shumaker has hit 23 home runs in her career, 11 of which have been solo home runs

• Cassidy McLellan tallied her third career multi-hit game and first since Feb. 15, 2025 vs. Binghamton
• Five of the Gators’ six pitchers recorded at least one strikeout

  • Leah Stevens recorded her first career strikeout in the bottom of the seventh

• Five of Florida’s seven runs came off of singles by four different players: Brown, Jocelyn Erickson, Gabi Comia and Madison Walton
• The Gators are now 20-2 in the all-time series against the Redbirds

  • Florida is 14-0 against Illinois State when playing them on opening weekend

UP NEXT:
The Gators will continue play in Tampa with a pair of games on Saturday. Florida opens the day against Michigan at 11:30 a.m., followed by a 4:30 p.m. matchup against Bethune-Cookman.

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