The Gators found their swing early, and the Red Raiders' offense never got into a rhythm in Game 2 of the Gainesville Super Regional.
With its back against the wall, 6-seeded Florida kept its season alive by beating Texas Tech 10-2 in Saturday's Game 2 of the Gainesville Super Regional.
The Gators will host the Red Raiders in a decisive Game 3 on Sunday, May 23, with a ticket to the Women's College World Series on the line.
NiJaree Canady got the start in the circle for Texas Tech, but was credited with her third loss of the month after allowing five runs off five hits in 3.2 innings of work. She would ultimately be replaced by Samantha Lincoln, who allowed nine more hits and five runs, herself.
The Gators were led by a strong pitching performance by Keagan Rothrock, who only allowed five hits by the prolific Red Raiders offense. At the plate, Jocelyn Erickson drove in three runs on three hits, and Kenleigh Cahalan added three hits for the Gators' total of 14.
Canady gave up a three-run, game-tying home run on Friday before Texas Tech's game-winning homer. The Gators picked up where they left off against the two-time national pitcher of the year on Saturday.
After a leadoff walk, Florida's power hitter Erickson launched a homer to left-center field to jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening frame.
Erickson continued to bring an impact when she drove in a run with a single in the third inning to push the lead to 3-0 in a do-or-die scenario for the Gators.
Rothrock started the bottom of the third with back-to-back hit batters. The Red Raiders used the early base runners by tallying their first run off a sacrifice fly by Jasmyn Burns.
The Gators responded in a hurry with Madison Walker hitting a two-run bomb in the fourth inning. Canady was pulled after allowing a tied-career-high five earned runs in her 3.2 innings of work.
Texas Tech started a rally in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff single by Mihyia Davis and a double by Lauren Allred. Lagi Quiroga brought a run in with a grounder and Davis beating the throw home with ease.
With one out, former Florida transfer Mia Williams was hit by a pitch for the fourth time in the Super Regional. An unsuccessful challenge of the pitch by Florida loaded the bases for the Red Raiders. Burns flew out to the warning track as the Gators escaped the jam, still leading 5-2.
Erickson stayed hot at the plate with a leadoff single in the fifth after a nine-pitch at-bat against the lefty Lincoln. A bunt single led to a two-run single by Kenleigh Cahalan to push the advantage to 7-2.
The Red Raiders' defense miscommunicated on a pop-up of their own, which tacked on another Florida run. One pitch later, Ella Wesolowski doubled in the runner to make it a 9-2 game. Florida loaded the bases with two outs and Erickson due up, but Lincoln got out of the four-run inning with a pop-out.
Both teams went away quietly in the fifth and sixth frames. Florida added more offense when facing two outs as Gabi Comia chopped an infield single to put the Gators up 10-2.
Tech got a leadoff base-runner with Burns reaching on an error by the third baseman. The Red Raiders went down with a strikeout and a pair of ground outs to even the series.
