No. 2/2 Softball drops series finale at Florida

Monday, March 17

Gainesville, FL

6 PM CT / 7 PM ET

University of Texas

28-2, 0

Florida

28-4, 0

Texas

Florida

Photo by: Photo by Cat Wofford

03.17.2025 | Softball

Box Score

Texas, again, limits Florida’ high-octane offense, but unable to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

By: Chris Allen Brown

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It took Texas just 10 pitches to take control of the momentum during the conference series finale at Florida. But then – in just a blink of an eye – the momentum swung in favor of the Gators and the Longhorns were unable to regain it, ultimately dropping Monday night's contest, 3-1.

Ashton Maloney, Texas' leadoff hitter, put the second pitch of the game into play and forced a throwing error by Florida starting pitcher Katelynn Oxley (4-2). The error allowed Maloney to round second and make her way to third for the Longhorns' sophomore Kayden Henry.

After fouling off four of the eight pitches during her plate appearance, Henry sent a 2-2 pitch from Oxley back into right field for a single that scored Maloney from third and gave the Longhorns a quick 1-0 lead before fans found their seats.

But moments later, Henry was picked off first, Mia Scott popped up a 2-1 pitch into foul territory for an out and Reese Atwood flew out to left field on the first pitch of her at bat to end the top of the first.

Mac Morgan (5-1) attempted to keep the momentum in the Texas dugout with back-to-back three-up, three-down innings in the bottom of the first and second. The Longhorn offense did their best to grab the momentum, too, in the top of the third after Kaydee Bennett drew a leadoff walk. But, with runners on first and second with only one away, Scott and Atwood were unable to extend the UT lead.

This presented Florida (28-4, 3-3) with an opportunity.

The Gators opened the bottom of the third with back-to-back infield single, before Morgan got the next two Florida batters out. But then Taylor Shumaker sent a 1-0 pitch into the left-centerfield gap for a two-out, two-run double that gave UF the lead. A lead that was extended from 2-1 to 3-1 the following inning on a sacrifice fly.

Texas had an opportunity in the top of the fifth to answer following back-to-back one-out walks, but Henry and Scott flew out to the left field and center field, respectively. An inning later, the Longhorns, again, had runners on first and second, but Katie Stewart hit a ball down the third base line that was ruled fair and gave the Florida defense a chance to turn a double play. Five pitchers later, the inning gave to an end when Joley Mitchell flew out to centerfield.

The 8-9-1 part of Texas' lineup – despite drawing three of the Longhorns' five walks on the night – were unable to set the table for a come-from-behind rally in the top of the seventh.

FROM HEAD COACH MIKE WHITE

"Overall, playing the number three team in the country and coming away with a series win away from home was big for us, especially with it being our first SEC series win. So, I'm real proud of our ladies and all the effort they put in. The pitching staff did a really good job. The offense was really good, too. We just weren't able to capitalize on the opportunities to get the runs back tonight and that's a kudos to Florida's pitching. They were using their off speeds quite well and kind of kept us at bay. Again, we had opportunities but just couldn't take care of it."

GAME NOTES

Monday night's game marked the first time this season that Texas lost a game after being the first team to score.
- The Longhorns entered the series finale against the Gators with a 23-0 record when scoring first.
- The loss to Florida on Monday also marked the first time this season that Texas has dropped a game when leading after the first inning.
  - Entering the game, the Longhorns were 15-0 when leading after the conclusion of the game's first frame.
By sending the eighth pitch of her first inning at bat to right field, Kayden Henry extended her consecutive games played streak to 16 straight, the now longest active streak by a Longhorn softball student-athlete.
Monday marked the first time first-year Longhorn Kaydee Bennett earned two walks in a game since Feb. 22, 2025 during Texas' extra inning win at Arizona.
- It's now the fourth overall time this season that Bennett has drawn two walks in a single game.
As a result of drawing a walk on four pitches to begin the top of the sixth, Reese Atwood also extended her consecutive games played successfully reaching base streak to 11 straight, joining Henry (16) as the only active Longhorns with double-digit on-base streaks.

UP NEXT

Texas (28-2, 2-1) will return to the Forty Acres for its next SEC series as Auburn (20-8, 0-6) comes to Red & Charline McCombs Field for a three-game series beginning at 4 p.m. CT on Friday, Mar. 21.
- Saturday's contest is scheduled for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch, while Sunday's series finale is slated for 12 p.m. CT.
  - All three games of the series are expected to be streamed on SEC Network+.

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