Jahni Kerr’s two-homer night lifts No. 6 FSU past No. 2 Florida
The No. 6 Florida State Seminoles shut out No. 2 Florida at home on Wednesday night, 4-0.
Keagan Rothrock earned the start for Florida, while Ashtyn Danley took the circle for Florida State.
The Gators loaded the bases in the first inning, but Danley worked out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts of Korbe Otis and Kenleigh Cahalan—the first time this season the duo has struck out with the bases loaded. Danley continues to thrive under pressure, holding opponents to just 1-for-13 with the bases loaded this season.
In the bottom half of the first inning, Isa Torres led off with a single through the left side. Jaysoni Beachum chopped a ball up the middle and reached on an error at second base, allowing Torres to advance to third. Beachum took second on the bobbled throw, bringing Jahni Kerr to the plate. Kerr crushed a 3-2 pitch for a three-run home run to right field. The ball struck a van driving by beyond the fence, giving the Seminoles an early 3-0 lead.
Kerr entered the matchup hitting .533 with 16 hits and nine RBIs over her last 10 games. She had recently moved up to the three spot in the lineup after starting the season lower in the order.
Florida’s offense tallied four hits on the day but couldn’t seem to get much going until the fifth inning.
Annabelle Widra entered in the fifth for Danley, and the Gators threatened with runners on first and second after a Taylor Shumaker single and Jocelyn Erickson. With one out, Otis hit a rocket to right, which resulted in a double play as Hallie Wacaser snagged it and tossed out Shumaker.
Florida State picked up an insurance run in the sixth as Kerr wasn’t finished for the day. The redshirt senior blasted a solo shot, doubling her home run total for the year.
Widra retired the side in order in both the sixth and seventh to seal the 4-0 win.
To note: Rothrock has struggled against Florida State dating back to last year’s contest with 13.2 innings 15 hits, 6 home runs, 13 runs and 11 earned runs.
Florida returns home to host Arkansas this weekend, while Florida State stays in Tallahassee as Virginia comes to town.
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