GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast softball (15-26, 9-6 ASUN) scored its most runs in program history against Florida in a 9-6 loss to the No. 4/7 Gators (40-5, 14-4 SEC) on Wednesday night in Gainesville.

"I'm really proud of our offense tonight," head coach Lindsay Fico said. "Putting up six runs on Florida is no easy task and it's a testament to our team's hard work and preparation. (Nikki) Gibson has been so solid for us defensively all season and she did it with her bat tonight too. I'm happy to see her hard work pay off. 

"We let the first inning jitters and the big stage get to us early, but did a good job of settling in and staying competitive. I'm hoping we bring this momentum into a very important weekend at home against JU."

The Gators were led by the top three hitters in their order – Taylor Shumaker, Jocelyn Erickson and Kenleigh Calahan – who went 7-for-9 with five RBI and six runs scored. The power hitting trio tallied five of UF's six extra base hits, including two doubles from Calahan and a homer from Shumaker. Cassidy McLellan homered for the other extra base hit for Florida.

The Eagles arms held the rest of Florida's lineup to just 3-for-17 at the plate, providing time for its offense to do damage. Gibson went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored to lead the way for FGCU.

Gibson answered two runs from the Gators in the bottom of the first with a towering 248-foot blast off the roof of the Florida bullpen in left field. The home run was Gibson's first since March 4, 2024 against Central Michigan, and just her second career long ball. Ally Thompson had worked a walk in the prior at-bat for FGCU's first baserunner of the game, and scored on the homer to tie the game at 2. 

The Gators posted two more runs in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly and single. Neither team scored in the third, as Victoria Ash delivered the first scoreless frame for FGCU thanks to a running grab from K'Mari Williams in right field and the Eagles' ninth double play of the season. 

FGCU's offense had more in the tank, and scored three in the top of the fourth to take a 5-4 lead. Ally Thompson laced a double just fair down the right field line that scored Mackenzie Leiti for the first Eagles' run of the inning. Gibson tacked on her third RBI of the day with a single and Kiki Daniels made it back-to-back RBI singles with a pinch-hit line drive through the left side. 

Florida earned the No. 4/7 national ranking behind a potent offense that provided an answer. The Gators tallied two runs in the bottom of the fourth to retake the lead, and added three in the fifth to go up 9-5. 

Grace Taylor settled in for FGCU, adding the second scoreless frame of the day in the sixth to give the bats another opportunity.

The Eagles drew a pair of one-out walks in the seventh to force Florida ace Keagan Rothrock into the circle. Leiti drove a ball to the warning track with the bases loaded as a sacrifice fly to score J'Lyn Guyden, but Rothrock quelled the comeback to secure the 9-6 win.

Olivia Miller (7-0) recorded the win for UF and Tegan Gabrielse (0-3) was charged with the loss.

Next, FGCU returns home for a series against Jacksonville (27-15, 11-4) beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.

2026 softball mini plans and single game tickets are on sale at https://fgcuathletics.evenue.net/list/SB. 

For more information on FGCU Softball, follow @FGCUSoftball on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit fgcuathletics.com.

Postgame Notes
– Gibson hit a 248-foot blast to left field for her first home run of the season
– Gibson had three RBI and a two-hit game 
– Thompson had a multi-run game
– FGCU's six runs are the most the Eagles have scored in the 13 games in program history against the Gators
– The six runs on Wednesday night also surpasses the four combined runs FGCU scored in its last seven outings against Florida
– Gibson's second inning home run marked the first time FGCU scored in a game against Florida since 2022
– Gibson's home run is her first since March 4, 2024, and the second of her career
– Ash and Taylor each threw scoreless innings in the third and sixth, respectively, for FGCU
– Florida leads the all-time series 11-2
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