STARKVILLE, MISS. – The 10-ranked Florida softball team defeated Mississippi State, 8-5, on Friday afternoon at Nusz Park.

The Gators (30-5, 6-2 SEC) sophomore catcher Jocelyn Erickson went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI against the Bulldogs (25-8, 6-5 SEC) to even the series 1-1.

Mississippi State took the initial lead in the contest with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning of place. Kendra Falby nearly robbed a home run from Barbary, but at least kept the ball in the park, and Kennedy followed with a walk. MSU loaded the bases with another walk and Wesolowski drove a pair home on a two-RBI single to shallow center field.

Florida gained the lead, 3-2, in top of the fourth inning. Skylar Wallace was issued a four-pitch walk to lead off the frame, while Korbe Otis followed up full-count walk. With the table set and no outs, Jocelyn Erickson belted her sixth home run of the year over the right center field wall that cleared the bases scoring both Wallace and Otis.

Erickson extended the lead out to 5-2 in the top of the sixth inning with her seventh home run of the season. The Phoenix, Ariz. Native nearly replicated her home run in the top of the fourth inning as she lifted the home run off the light pole in right center for her first multi-home run game.

Reagan Walsh kept the rally going with a single off the pitcher and Katie Kistler drove Walsh home on an RBI double to left field. McLellan reached base shortly after when the pitcher misplayed a hard two-hopper back to the circle and Kistler scored shortly after on an attempted double steal. Ava Brown (13-2) concluded the scoring in the frame with her seventh home run of the season to bring the score to 8-2.

The Bulldogs attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh and was able to close down the lead to 8-5, but Keagan Rothrock (2 SV) shut down the rally and Katie Kistler's tremendous grab down the right field line end the game.

The series finale between the Gators and the Bulldogs is set for Saturday, March 30, at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
 
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