Thursday, February 6
Gainesville, Fla.
6 p.m.
Florida Gators
vs
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North Florida
No. 3 Gators To Kick Off 2025 Season On Thursday
Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The No. 3/2 University of Florida softball team is set to open the 2025 season this Thursday at home vs. North Florida.
The Gators host the Ospreys at 6 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The matchup will air on SEC Network+.
Florida then travels to Tampa for five games at the USF-Rawlings Invitational hosted by USF from Feb. 7-9.
The Gators are coming off a 54-win 2024 season that included a Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship title and the program's 12th trip to the Women's College World Series.
Florida brings back a significant number of returners from a year ago, including the NFCA and SEC Player of the Year, Jocelyn Erickson, and four of its five National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American honorees: SEC Freshman of the Year Keagan Rothrock, Reagan Walsh, Korbe Otis and Erickson.
The Gators also bolstered their roster with the signing of three transfers, Kenleigh Cahalan (Alabama), Rylee Holtorf (Washington) and Kara Hammock (UNCW), in addition to seven talented freshmen: Gabi Comia, Katelynn Oxley, Kylie Shaw, Makenna Bellaire, Townsen Thomas, Taylor Shumaker and Layla Lamar.
PRESEASON PRAISE
Florida was picked second in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll entering the season. Kendra Falby, Keagan Rothrock, Korbe Otis, Reagan Walsh and Jocelyn Erickson were each tabbed as Preseason All-SEC selections
The Gators were ranked as a top-3 team in all four major preseason polls: Softball America (No. 1), D1 Softball (No. 1), ESPN/USA Softball (No. 2) and the NFCA Coaches Poll (No. 3)
EXPERIENCED IN THE CIRCLE
Florida had one of the youngest pitching staffs in the country in 2024, led by three freshmen: Rothrock, Ava Brown and Olivia Miller. The Gators return 97.4 percent (418.8 of 430) of their innings pitched in 2024, led by Rothrock who led the nation in innings pitched last season (262)
LEADING THE PACK
Kendra Falby, who has led the Gators in hits in each of the last three seasons, has the opportunity to move up in the Florida record book in her senior season. She enters 2025 ranked No. 7 in Florida program history in career triples (9), No. 8 in career runs scored (188), No. 9 both in career hits (247) and stolen bases (63)
ETCHED IN THE RECORD BOOK
Reagan Walsh enters her senior season ranked No. 2 in career sacrifice flies (16). She needs five more sacrifice flies to move into a tie for first with Charla Echols and Megan Bush (21) and six to move into first all-time. She also needs just three RBI and three home runs to move
ALL-CONFERENCE ADDITIONS
The Gators added three transfers in the offseason, each of whom were all-conference selections at their previous schools: shortstop Rylee Holtorf (Washington), right-handed pitcher Kara Hammock (UNCW) and infielder Kenleigh Cahalan (Alabama)
BACK-TO-BACK
A Gator has been named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Erickson earned the honor in 2024 and Skylar Wallace in 2023. Florida is the only program to have two players win the award since it was established in 2016
MIDYEAR ENROLLEES
Florida had two freshmen graduate from high school a semester early and enroll on campus in January: Kylie Shaw (outfield) and Makenna Bellaire (catcher). Both are eligible to play this season
Opening Week Schedule
Gators versus Opening Week Opponents
Single-Game Ticket Information
Single-game tickets are currently on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com
Florida Softball on Twitter
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
Florida Softball on Facebook
The Gators host the Ospreys at 6 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The matchup will air on SEC Network+.
Florida then travels to Tampa for five games at the USF-Rawlings Invitational hosted by USF from Feb. 7-9.
The Gators are coming off a 54-win 2024 season that included a Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship title and the program's 12th trip to the Women's College World Series.
Florida brings back a significant number of returners from a year ago, including the NFCA and SEC Player of the Year, Jocelyn Erickson, and four of its five National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American honorees: SEC Freshman of the Year Keagan Rothrock, Reagan Walsh, Korbe Otis and Erickson.
The Gators also bolstered their roster with the signing of three transfers, Kenleigh Cahalan (Alabama), Rylee Holtorf (Washington) and Kara Hammock (UNCW), in addition to seven talented freshmen: Gabi Comia, Katelynn Oxley, Kylie Shaw, Makenna Bellaire, Townsen Thomas, Taylor Shumaker and Layla Lamar.
PRESEASON PRAISE
Florida was picked second in the SEC Preseason Coaches' Poll entering the season. Kendra Falby, Keagan Rothrock, Korbe Otis, Reagan Walsh and Jocelyn Erickson were each tabbed as Preseason All-SEC selections
The Gators were ranked as a top-3 team in all four major preseason polls: Softball America (No. 1), D1 Softball (No. 1), ESPN/USA Softball (No. 2) and the NFCA Coaches Poll (No. 3)
EXPERIENCED IN THE CIRCLE
Florida had one of the youngest pitching staffs in the country in 2024, led by three freshmen: Rothrock, Ava Brown and Olivia Miller. The Gators return 97.4 percent (418.8 of 430) of their innings pitched in 2024, led by Rothrock who led the nation in innings pitched last season (262)
LEADING THE PACK
Kendra Falby, who has led the Gators in hits in each of the last three seasons, has the opportunity to move up in the Florida record book in her senior season. She enters 2025 ranked No. 7 in Florida program history in career triples (9), No. 8 in career runs scored (188), No. 9 both in career hits (247) and stolen bases (63)
ETCHED IN THE RECORD BOOK
Reagan Walsh enters her senior season ranked No. 2 in career sacrifice flies (16). She needs five more sacrifice flies to move into a tie for first with Charla Echols and Megan Bush (21) and six to move into first all-time. She also needs just three RBI and three home runs to move
ALL-CONFERENCE ADDITIONS
The Gators added three transfers in the offseason, each of whom were all-conference selections at their previous schools: shortstop Rylee Holtorf (Washington), right-handed pitcher Kara Hammock (UNCW) and infielder Kenleigh Cahalan (Alabama)
BACK-TO-BACK
A Gator has been named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Erickson earned the honor in 2024 and Skylar Wallace in 2023. Florida is the only program to have two players win the award since it was established in 2016
MIDYEAR ENROLLEES
Florida had two freshmen graduate from high school a semester early and enroll on campus in January: Kylie Shaw (outfield) and Makenna Bellaire (catcher). Both are eligible to play this season
Opening Week Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video |
| Feb. 6 | North Florida | 6 PM | Link | Link | SECN+ |
| Feb. 7 | Illinois State | 7 PM | Link | Link | N/A |
| Feb. 8 | Delaware | 12:30 PM | Link | Link | N/A |
| Feb. 8 | Michigan | 3 PM | Link | Link | N/A |
| Feb. 9 | Georgia Southern | 12 PM | Link | Link | N/A |
| Feb. 9 | USF | 2:30 PM | Link | Link | ESPN+ |
Gators versus Opening Week Opponents
| North Florida | |
| Head Coach | Jeff Conrad |
| Career Record | 64-42 (.603) |
| Florida All-Time Record vs. | 13-0 |
| Streak | 13 straight wins |
| Last Meeting | February 21, 2024 | UF 14, UNF 0 (5) |
| Last Loss | N/A |
| Last Loss in Gainesville | N/A |
| Illinois State | |
| Head Coach | Tina Kramos |
| Career Record | 53-53 (.500) |
| Florida All-Time Record vs. | 18-2 |
| Streak | 18 straight wins |
| Last Meeting | February 12, 2024 - UF 12, Illinois State (5) |
| Last Loss | March 4, 2007 – L, 11-2 (6) – Los Angeles, Calif. |
| Last Loss in Tampa | N/A |
| RV/No. 22 Michigan | |
| Head Coach | Bonnie Tholl |
| Career Record | 65-43 (.616) |
| Florida All-Time Record vs. | 12-12 |
| Streak | Michigan has won back-to-back games |
| Last Meeting | March 2, 2024 - UF 2, Michigan 10 (5) |
| Last Loss | March 2, 2024 - UF 2, Michigan 10 (5) |
| Last Loss in Tampa | February 10, 2024 - UF 1, Michigan 2 (10) |
| Delaware | |
| Head Coach | Jen Steele |
| Career Record | 317-264 (.546) |
| Florida All-Time Record vs. | 1-0 |
| Streak | Florida won only meeting |
| Last Meeting | February 12, 2017 - UF 9, Delaware 0 (5) - Tampa, Fla. |
| Last Loss | N/A |
| Last Loss in Tampa | N/A |
| USF | |
| Head Coach | Ken Eriksen |
| Career Record | 1,117-583 (.657) |
| Florida All-Time Record vs. | 61-14 |
| Streak | Won 27 of last 28 games |
| Last Meeting | April 10, 2024 - UF 4, USF 7 - Gainesville, Fla. |
| Last Loss | April 10, 2024 - UF 4, USF 7 - Gainesville, Fla. |
| Last Loss in Tampa | April 13, 2005 - UF 2, USF 5 - Tampa, Fla. |
| GEORGIA SOUTHERN | |
| Head Coach | Sharon Perkins |
| Career Record | 350-227 (.607 |
| Florida All-Time Record vs. | 6-0 |
| Streak | Six straight wins |
| Last Meeting | February 16, 2024 | UF 8, Georgia Southern 0 (6 innings) |
| Last Loss | N/A |
| Last Loss in Tampa | N/A |
Single-Game Ticket Information
Single-game tickets are currently on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online or by contacting the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com
Florida Softball on Twitter
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
Florida Softball on Facebook
Players Mentioned
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C
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OF
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RHP
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INF
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OF/UTL
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LHP
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OF
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RHP
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OF
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OF
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OF
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SS
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INF
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