{"id":963,"date":"2026-05-17T20:36:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T20:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=963"},"modified":"2026-05-17T20:36:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T20:36:18","slug":"gators-slugger-taylor-shumaker-powers-florida-into-super-regionals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=963","title":{"rendered":"Gators\u2019 slugger Taylor Shumaker powers Florida into Super Regionals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GAINESVILLE \u2014 A hitless day by Florida slugger Taylor Shumaker didn\u2019t help Georgia Tech during the Yellow Jackets\u2019 NCAA regional softball loss Saturday to the Gators.<\/p>\n

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It proved costly Sunday, when Shumaker was ready to pounce.<\/p>\n

The sophomore accounted for Florida\u2019s first three runs \u2014 highlighted by a two-run home run in the second inning \u2014 as the No. 6 Gators defeated Georgia Tech 5-2 on a blistering hot day at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium\u00a0to advance to the Super Regionals.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s wired differently,\u201d coach Tim Walton said. \u201cShe\u2019s a special, special athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Florida (51-10) will host the winner between Texas Tech and Ole Miss in a Super Regional as the Gators seek their 13th Women\u2019s College World Series appearance under Walton. The Super Regional games will be Thursday through next Sunday, with the exact schedule still to be determined.<\/p>\n

The Red Raiders and Rebels are playing Sunday in Lubbock, with regional host Texas Tech needing one more win in the double-elimination format after rallying from an 8-0 deficit to win 10-9 on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Walton\u2019s Gators did not need dramatics to continue their dominance at home during the NCAA\u2019s opening round.<\/p>\n

Behind Shumaker and pitcher Keegan Rothrock, Florida methodically dispatched of Georgia Tech (32-29) and improved to 36-1 at home in NCAA Regional play since 2012 \u2014 the last season Walton\u2019s program failed to reach a Super Regional. During that stretch, the Gators have outscored opponents 268-17.<\/p>\n

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Rothrock\u2019s no-hit bid ended in the sixth inning after two walks and a two-run double by Georgia Tech cleanup hitter Addison Leschber cut Florida\u2019s lead to 5-2. But one day after shutting out the Yellow Jackets 8-0 in five innings, Rothrock (28-6) walked five but made winning pitches when it mattered.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe just has this aura to her,\u201d second baseman Gabi Coma said. \u201cShe just carries herself so well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walton said the Gators ace \u201ccarried us through this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shumaker provided the offensive punch during a five-RBI day Friday against Florida A&M. The Gators picked up the slack a day later, boosting Shumaker\u2019s confidence and determination.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe fact that I can go hitless and my team can still put up a bunch of runs is something that just allows you to play so free,\u201d she said. \u201cI can have a bad day and still the other people around me are going to find a way to get it done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shumaker set the tone Sunday, opening the bottom of the first inning with a double and scoring the game\u2019s first run on a fielder\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n

She then hit a two-run opposite-field home run in the second inning to push Florida\u2019s advantage to 3-0 and give her 18 home runs in 2026 and 40 in her young career, 10th all-time at UF. The 20-year-old from Southern California then drew a walk to open the fourth inning and scored on a single by Townsen Thomas to give Florida a 4-0 lead. It was the 87th run scored by Shumaker in 2026, three shy of Skyler Wallace\u2019s school record (90, 2024).<\/p>\n

After going 0-for-3 Saturday, Shumaker was ready to bounce back after a Sunday film session with longtime assistant coach Aric Thomas.<\/p>\n

\u201cNobody knows they\u2019re more 0-fer than Taylor,\u201d Walton said. \u201cShe\u2019s pissed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thomas, playing in her first NCAA Regional, experienced her own emotional roller-coaster, culminating with a 2-of-4 Sunday as Florida managed just six hits.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe might have been a tick nervous on Friday,\u201d Walton said. \u201cShe hadn\u2019t been done it before. But today she was locked in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walton\u2019s players usually are this time of year. For the 53-year-old coach, postseason runs are appreciated, not expected \u2014 even after guiding Florida to a Super Regional for the 17th time in 21 seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t take this stuff for granted,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s really hard to do that when you\u2019ve been here for so long. Everybody just expects this is what it\u2019s going to be like, and I expect it to.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt isn\u2019t always as easy as it looks. After the game you realize it\u2019s a big deal. It\u2019s really hard to do and I\u2019m proud of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Venezuela says it deported a close ally of Maduro to face criminal proceedings in US<\/a><\/p>\n

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Florida sophomore Taylor Shumaker’s homer, three runs lead Gators past Georgia Tech 5-2 and into the NCAA Super Regionals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":962,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-sports","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nGators\u2019 slugger Taylor Shumaker powers Florida into Super Regionals - Orlando Relocation Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=963\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gators\u2019 slugger Taylor Shumaker powers Florida into Super Regionals - 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