GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 4/5 Florida softball team continued its best start to a season since 2016 on Sunday afternoon, downing Middle Tennessee 7-0 in the final game of the Florida Tournament. With the win, the Gators improve to 19-0.

Keagan Rothrock (8-0) tossed a complete-game shutout with a season-high 11 strikeouts, allowing just two baserunners off a pair of singles and two walks.

Kenleigh Cahalan capped off a 12-RBI week with her team-best eighth home run, a three-run shot that hit the right field pole in the third inning. With four RBIs in the game, she now has a team-best 32 RBIs on the season and has recorded nine multi-RBI games.

Taylor Shumaker had the only multi-hit performance of the game, going 2-for-3 with a walk and her seventh double of the season.

NOTABLES:

• Keagan Rothrock struck out a season-high 11 Blue Raiders, the fourth time in her career that she has recorded 10 or more strikeouts

  • She struck out a career-best 13 vs. Lafayette (Feb. 23, 2024) and she also had 11 strikeouts vs. Mercer (March 15, 2024) and 10 strikeouts vs. Jacksonville (Feb. 11, 2026) this season

• Rothrock tossed the 41^st complete-game of her career and fourth of the season

  • She has now thrown 11 complete-game shutouts in her career. This was her first since Feb. 15, 2025, vs. Boston College

• Taylor Shumaker, in the leadoff spot, has reached base to open the last six games

  • She’s drawn five walks and hit a single in those six plate appearances

• Over the past five games at the Florida Tournament, Kenleigh Cahalan has hit .538 (7-for-13), leading the Gators in home runs (3), RBIs (12) and slugging percentage (1.385)
• In the last six games, three different Gator pitchers have combined for four complete-game shutouts: Ava Brown had two – at North Florida (Feb. 18) & vs. Lindenwood (Feb. 21), Leah Stevens vs. Middle Tennessee (Feb. 21) and Rothrock vs. Middle Tennessee (Feb. 22)
• Sophomore Gabi Comia has not recorded a strikeout in 59 plate appearances in her sophomore season
• Florida’s hitters drew 40 walks at the Florida Tournament, while the pitching staff allowed just seven by opponents
• The Gators have outscored opponents 177-31 this season
• Florida has hit at least one home run in 17 of its 19 games

  • The Gators recorded their 11^th multi-home run game of the season vs. Middle Tennessee

HEAR FROM THE GATORS:
On what was working for her in the circle today… 
“Kind of everything. We’ve really been working hard on getting the leadoff batter out. So, for me, making sure I’m getting the leadoff out has been a huge focus. I’m making sure I’m carrying that into the next batter and getting first pitch strikes, getting ahead and not working behind. I think when I’m able to successfully do those things, I can have days like today.” – junior Keagan Rothrock
 
On pitching with a great defense behind her… 
“It’s amazing. They’re amazing. I love watching them play. Genuinely, I think that’s my favorite part of practice, just watching them take ground balls and work together and do cuts and relays. It’s just so fun to watch. So, to come in the game and watch them do their thing is awesome.” – junior Keagan Rothrock
 
On what was working well for her at the plate…
“It was just me relaxing and calming down and trusting my preparation. I’m confident at the plate when I get a lot of work in before the game and throughout the week.” – senior Kenleigh Cahalan
 
On what’s been working for her offensively so far this season…
“I’m just really locking in on my swing because last year I wasn’t really seeing the ball and I wasn’t relaxed. I’m not in the same mindset this season. I’m just trusting myself and what I do all week with the coaching staff and putting that into the game.” – senior Kenleigh Cahalan
 
UP NEXT:
The Gators head West to California for five games at the Judi Garman Classic hosted by Cal State Fullerton from Feb. 26-28.

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