Austin CurtrightUSA TODAY NETWORK
Florida softball didn't have much time to regroup from its run-rule loss against Texas on Saturday before the Gators faced Alabama in an elimination game on Sunday.
The No. 4 Gators, overwhelmed by the No. 1 Longhorns on Saturday, bounced back for a 6-4 victory over fellow SEC program Alabama to advance to the Women's College World Series semifinals for the first time since 2017. To the Gators' credit, they didn't simply overwhelm the Crimson Tide, but proved they could withstand its best shot in a back-and-forth affair.
REQUIRED READING: Florida softball vs. Alabama: Prediction for Women's College World Series SEC showdown
Alabama got on the board first to take a 1-0 lead but, as was a recurring theme on Sunday, Jocelyn Erickson was able to even the score in the top of the third with an RBI single. Reagan Walsh added another RBI to score Korbe Otis and give Florida a 2-1 lead.
Alabama tied the game in the bottom of the third with a Marlie Giles single to score Lauren Johnson to keep the score tied 2-2. But Erickson once again proved to be the difference maker in the top of the fifth inning when she launched a three-run home run over the center field wall to make the score 6-2. Alabama managed to score two of its own in the sixth inning, but couldn't muster the offense in the seventh.
With that, Florida advances to take on No. 2 national seed Oklahoma in the WCWS semis on Monday. Check out all the live score, updates and highlights from Florida's game against Alabama on Sunday:
REQUIRED READING: What channel is Florida softball vs Alabama on today? Time, TV for Women's College World Series
Florida softball vs Alabama score: Gators 6, Crimson Tide 4
| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Alabama | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Florida softball vs Alabama live updates, highlights
Final: Florida 6, Alabama 4
Bottom of the seventh inning: Florida 6, Alabama 4
8:22 p.m.: And that'll do it! Giles lines out to left field, and Florida will advance to its first semifinal appearance since 2017!
8:21 p.m.: Rothrock strikes out Preuitt! Alabama is down to its last out.
8:20 p.m.: Larissa Preuitt coming in to pinch hit for Cahalan.
8:17 p.m.: White, Kenleigh Cahalan and Giles bring up the top of the order for the Crimson Tide.
8:19 p.m.: White grounds out to Wallace for out No. 1.
Top of the seventh inning: Florida 6, Alabama 4
8:16 p.m.: Falby grounds out, and that'll do it for the Gators. It's up to the defense to send Alabama home
8:15 p.m.: Another called strike three, this time for Kowalewski, for out No. 2.
8:14 p.m.: Called strike three for Kistler to get the first out.
Bottom of the sixth inning: Florida 6, Alabama 4
8:09 p.m.: Rothrock battles it out with Lauren Johnson, but ultimately wins as she forces a fly-out to Katie Kistler in right field. Florida has an inning to pad its stats before the bottom of the seventh.
8:05 p.m.: Heivilin gets a single through into left field to score another run for Alabama. Florida still leads 6-4 with two outs.
8:04 p.m.: Florida gets the out at second but can't complete the 6-4-3 double play to get Riley Valentine out. Alabama has runners on the corners and gets a run in to cut the lead to 6-3.
8:01 p.m.: Lauren Esman gets one over second base, and that's three straight singles to load the bases for the Crimson Tide.
8 p.m.: Jenna Johnson slaps into right field to put runners on first and second.
8 p.m.: Bailey Dowling sends one deep but it's fielded harmlessly at the warning track by Otis. One out.
7:59 p.m.: Marlie Giles gets on the board after Wallace can't quite field it.
Top of the sixth inning: Florida 6, Alabama 2
7:55 p.m.: Alabama gets out of the inning after a flying snag by center fielder Kristen White to get Reagan Walsh out, but the damage is done: Florida leads 6-2 and needs only six more outs to advance to the WCWS semis vs. Oklahoma.
7:52 p.m.: There's a three-RBI home run from Erickson! Florida has blown this open in the sixth inning and now leads 6-2 on the third pitch from Johnson.
7:50 p.m.: Alabama's Pat Murphy makes a pitching change, taking Briski out in favor of Alea Johnson.
7:48 p.m.: Otis reaches on an error by Heivilin to put runners on the corners with two outs. Jocelyn Erickson is up.
7:44 p.m.: Williams grounds out to lead off the inning for Florida before Goelz singles up the middle. Top of the lineup coming up for Florida.
Fifth inning: Florida 3, Alabama 2
7:39 p.m.: Florida gets out of the inning after a groundout and a pop up. Gators bats coming up for the top of the sixth.
7:35 p.m.: Rothrock gets the strikeout, but the ball bounces past Erickson behind the plate to allow an Alabama baserunner with one out.
7:33 p.m.: Florida catches a break, as Kistler catches an Alabama deep fly right in front of the wall for the first out of the bottom of the fifth.
7:29 p.m.: Florida takes the lead, but strands two runners in scoring position after Falby grounds out to the pitcher. Gators miss out on an opportunity for some insurance runs there.
7:26 p.m.: Worse-case scenario for Florida, as Kowalewski strikes out looking with runners in scoring position. Gators with two outs now.
7:24 p.m.: Kistler's sacrifice bunt moves runners to second and third with one out. Kowalewski up to bat with a chance to do some damage here.
7:23 p.m.: Here comes Florida. Walsh singles up the middle to score Otis, giving the Gators a 3-2 lead with no outs. Florida with a chance for a big inning here.
7:21 p.m.: Florida with runners on first and second after Erickson draws a walk. Gators with some action here in the fifth.
7:20 p.m.: Florida starts the fifth with a leadoff single by Otis. Gators aiming to break this tie.
7:18 p.m.: Alabama turns to Jocelyn Briski for the fifth inning.
Fourth inning: Florida 2, Alabama 2
7:15 p.m.: Quick inning for Florida, as Rothrock retires Alabama in order on a pair of flyouts and a groundout. Game tied at two entering the fifth inning.
7:10 p.m.: Florida strands two runners on back-to-back pop ups by Goez and Wallace.
7:07 p.m.: Florida bats really making solid contact off Beaver now, with Williams roping a pitch down the left field line for a single. Gators working with runners on first and second with no outs in the fourth inning.
7:06 p.m.: Tough break for Falby, who lines a pitch to shortstop that's caught by Cahalan.
7:04 p.m.: Good start to the fourth for Florida, as Kowalewski leads off the frame with a single.
Third inning: Florida 2, Alabama 2
7:02 p.m.: Big pitch for the Gators, as Rothrock gets a groundball that's turned into a double play to end the inning. We're all tied up after three innings.
7:00 p.m.: Alabama strikes back, as Giles singles up the middle to score the runner from second base. Crimson Tide tie the game at two with runners on first and second with one out.
6:59 p.m.: Big strikeout for Rothrock, who strikes out Cahalan for the first out of the inning.
6:56 p.m.: Alabama also cooking, leading off the bottom of the third with runners on first and second after a walk and a bunt single.
6:51 p.m.: Inning ends on a pop up by Kistler, but Florida gets a run back and then some.
6:50 p.m.: A potentially good sign for Florida: The Gators are 45-4 this season when Wallace scores a run, according to the ESPN broadcast.
6:49 p.m.: Walsh grounds out to shortstop on what appeared to be a double-play chance, but Alabama can't convert and Florida takes a 2-1 lead on the RBI fielder's choice.
6:47 p.m.: Here comes Florida. Erickson ropes a double to right field for her nation-leading 81st RBI this season to tie the game. Gators hold Otis at third base on the hit. That ball was mashed.
6:46 p.m.: Florida cooking with runners on first and second after Otis walks. Erickson, the SEC Player of the Year, coming up to the plate now.
6:42 p.m.: Florida wins the challenge, and the Gators get their leadoff hitter on first base. That'll help the cause with Otis coming up to bat.
6:41 p.m.: Close call at first base for Wallace. Florida is challenging the out at first.
6:40 p.m.: Tough start to the third inning for Florida, who is retired on back-to-back groundouts.
Second inning: Alabama 1, Florida 0
6:36 p.m.: Florida gets out of the inning on the pop up to third base, but the Crimson Tide take the lead early.
6:34 p.m.: Rothrock gets a groundball, but Wallace doesn't have a play at the plate and Alabama scores its first run. Alabama with a runner on second base with two outs.
6:33 p.m.: Florida catches a break, as Alabama hits a rope but it's straight at Williams at second base. Now one out in the second inning.
6:32 p.m.: An Alabama single puts runners on the corners with no outs in the inning.
6:31 p.m.: Some outfield miscommunication results in an error being awarded to Falby in center field. Alabama baserunner reaches second base on the play. The error was only Falby's second this season.
6:29 p.m.: Broadcasting note: Game has shifted back to ESPN2.
6:28 p.m.: A Falby groundout and a Williams pop up end the inning for Florida. Rothrock headed back out for the Gators.
6:24 p.m.: Florida gets a base runner on the single up the middle by Kowalewski.
6:22 p.m.: Loud first out for Florida, as Kistler ropes a ball to center field, but it's caught at the fence.
First inning: Florida 0, Alabama 0
6:18 p.m.: Great start by Rothrock, who's fired up after ending the inning with back-to-back strikeouts to retire Alabama in order.
6:15 p.m.: Rothrock opens the game by forcing a bunt pop up for the first out.
6:09 p.m.: Nothing doing in the first for Florida, as Otis singles around three outs. Gators headed to the field.
Pregame
6:09 p.m.: Game will start on ESPN News, as Texas-Louisiana baseball hasn't finished yet on ESPN2.
6:02 p.m.: Alabama going with Kayla Beaver in the circle.
5:45 p.m.: Lineup for Florida, with Keagan Rothrock getting the start in the circle:
- 1. SS Skylar Wallace
- 2. LF Korbe Ortis
- 3. C Jocelyn Erickson
- 4. DP Reagan Walsh
- 5. RF Katie Kistler
- 6. 3B Ariel Kowalewski
- 7. CF Kendra Falby
- 8. 2B Mia Williams
- 9. 1B Avery Goelz
5:32 p.m.: Florida's game is about 30 minutes from first pitch, which was delayed to 6:06 p.m. ET after the weather delay.
What channel is Florida softball vs Alabama on today?
- TV channel: ESPN2
- Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
Florida's game against Alabama on Sunday will air live on ESPN2, with streaming options available on the ESPN app (with a cable login), ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Watch: Florida softball vs Alabama live with Fubo (free trial)
Florida softball schedule 2024
Here's a look at Florida’s 2024 NCAA Tournament and WCWS results. For the Gators’ full 2024 schedule, clickhere.
Gainesville Regional
- Friday, May 17: Florida 6, Florida Gulf Coast 0
- Saturday, May 18: Florida 9, South Alabama 1 (5 innings)
- Sunday, May 19: Florida 9, South Alabama 1 (5 innings)
Gainesville Super Regional
- Friday, May 24: Florida 4, Baylor 2
- Saturday, May 25: Baylor 5, Florida 2
- Sunday, May 26: Florida 5, Baylor 3
Women’s College World Series
- Thursday, May 30:Florida 1, Oklahoma State 0
- Saturday, June 1: Texas 10, Florida 0 (5 innings)
- Sunday, June 2: vs. Alabama
Alabama softball schedule 2024
Here's a look at Alabama’s 2024 NCAA Tournament and WCWS results. For the Tide’s full 2024 schedule, clickhere.
Tuscaloosa Regional
- Friday, May 17:Alabama 1, USC Upstate 0
- Saturday, May 18: Alabama 6, Southeastern Louisiana 3 (9 innings)
- Sunday, May 19: Alabama 12, Southeastern Louisiana 2 (5 innings)
Knoxville Super Regional
- Friday, May 24: Tennessee 3, Alabama 2
- Saturday, May 25: Alabama 3, Tennessee 2 (14 innings)
- Sunday, May 26: Alabama 4, Tennessee 1
Women’s College World Series
- Thursday, May 30: UCLA 4, Alabama 1
- Friday, May 31: Alabama 2, Duke 1
- Sunday, June 2: vs. Florida
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