The Florida softball scene was filled with thrilling performances and historic moments this past weekend. From Sarah Willis’s dominant outing for the UCF Knights to Olivia Miller’s perfect game for the Florida Gators, the state of Florida showcased its softball prowess. Let’s dive into the action and break down the highlights from the weekend.
The UCF Knights started their weekend strong with a 7-2 victory over the Georgia State Panthers. Senior right-hander Sarah Willis was the star of the game, dazzling with four perfect innings before being lifted. Willis totaled an impressive 8.2 innings throughout the Black and Gold Classic, allowing only one run on three hits while racking up 13 strikeouts. The Knights finished the weekend with a solid 4-1 record.
The USF Bulls also had a notable week, going 4-2. They secured a solid win over Michigan and suffered losses to Florida and Oregon State. Sophomore pitcher Payton Dixon tossed a complete game shutout in the Bulls’ 1-0 victory over the Michigan Wolverines. It was the first time since 2008 that South Florida shut out its first three opponents to open the season. Alanah Rivera had an outstanding performance at the plate, batting .500 with a home run and three RBIs.
The Florida State Seminoles bounced back from an opening season loss and ended the week with a 4-1 record. They avenged their 10-inning loss to Charlotte with an 11-0 five-inning win. Freshman Isa Torres played the hero with a walk-off single to secure a 9-8 victory over Texas Tech. The Seminoles cruised past Florida A&M, winning 9-0 in five innings. Florida State showcased their offensive firepower and strong pitching throughout the weekend.
FGCU had a tough weekend, going 1-5. Meagan Ricks stood out with her impressive .385 batting average and a double. Angelina Bonilla displayed her pitching skills, posting a solid 1.17 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 12 innings of work.
The Florida Gators had a successful weekend, finishing with a 4-1 record. They dropped a close 2-1 game to Michigan but bounced back strong. Freshman pitcher Olivia Miller made history by throwing a perfect game, becoming the first freshman in Florida softball history to achieve this feat. Miller retired all 15 batters faced in the Gators’ 16-0 run-rule victory over Bethune-Cookman. She showed her dominance with five strikeouts, five groundouts, and five flyouts on just 50 pitches.
Jacksonville went 2-2, with Allison Bratek earning the Atlantic Sun Conference’s first player of the week honors. Bratek had an incredible start to her spring season, recording seven hits, including five extra-base hits, two walks, and five RBIs across four games. Her standout performance included a home run in her first at-bat against James Madison and three extra-base hits against Fordham.
North Florida got off to a solid 3-1 start, thanks in part to standout performances from Savannah Channell and Hadlee Reichert. Both players hit .500 on the weekend, with Channell contributing a home run and three RBIs.
Bethune-Cookman had a challenging weekend, going 1-4. Halyne Gonzalez was recognized as the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Co-Pitcher of the Week for her strong performance against Illinois State and Michigan.
Stetson had a tough opening weekend, going 0-5. Kami Eppley stood out with her impressive .429 batting average, two triples, a double, and four RBIs.
Florida Atlantic started their season with a 3-2 record. Zoey Jones powered the team with a three-run homer against Michigan State, leading FAU to a 4-2 victory.
Florida A&M faced a challenging opening weekend and went 0-5. Nyomi Jones and Lauryn Peppers earned SWAC weekly honors for their notable performances against tough opponents, including #4 Florida State and Texas Tech.
In the DII Softball scene, Brenna Lokeinsky of Nova Southeastern was named the Player of the Week for her impressive offensive display, while Alexis Martin of Barry earned Pitcher of the Week honors for her outstanding performances.
Raelyn Roland of Warner was named NAIA Softball Florida’s Player of the Week, showcasing her offensive prowess with a .538 batting average and three RBIs, including a two-run homer.
Claire Sekinger of Southeastern was recognized as NAIA Softball Florida’s Pitcher of the Week for her dominant performances, recording 15 strikeouts in 16 innings of work to secure wins against tough opponents.
In DI JUCO Florida Softball, Sydney McCray of Florida SouthWestern and Amari Brown of Chipola were recognized for their exceptional performances.
