GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the ninth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Korbe Otis stepped into the batter’s box at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium and delivered one of the biggest hits of her career: a walk-off grand slam to secure a 10-7 win over No. 12/13 Arkansas.

With the win, the No. 3/2 Florida softball team (34-7, 7-4 Southeastern Conference) evened the series with the Razorbacks (27-8, 7-7 SEC), setting up a rubber match on Sunday with the conference series up for grabs.

The win was Florida’s first in extra innings this season and the team’s first walk off since Skylar Wallace at Ole Miss on April 28, 2023.

The afternoon was filled with dramatics, including when, in the top of the eighth with the game tied at 6-all, Arkansas loaded the bases with no outs following a thirty-minute umpire review.

Sophomore pitcher Ava Brown stepped up to the challenge, retiring the next three batters in order to keep the game level.

Nine of Florida’s 10 runs were scored via the home run, including a Reagan Walsh two-run home run in the first, a Mia Williams three-run home run and Otis’ grand slam in the ninth.

Brown (9-0) earned her third SEC win of the season, tossing 3.1 innings, allowing just one run off a solo home run.

NOTABLES:

• Florida has now hit seven grand slams this season off the bat of four different players
  
• Otis has hit three grand slams in her career and two as a Gator

  • Her last grand slam was in Gainesville against No. 8 Texas A&M on May 24, 2024
  • It was her fourth home run this season and first since Feb. 22 at Grand Canyon

• Otis had a team-best five RBI against Arkansas, both a season high and matching her career-best
• For the second season in a row, Walsh has slugged double-digit home runs

  • She has hit 10 this season, with three coming in SEC play
  • In her career, she has hit 43 home runs, sixth-most in program history

• Williams has hit 13 home runs this season and today’s home run was her first three-run home run of the season

  • She has hit 11 solo home runs, one two-run home run and one three-run home run
  • Williams has slugged 19 home runs in her career

• With today’s win, Brown now has nine wins in the circle this season, tied for most on staff with Keagan Rothrock

  • Brown holds a 25-5 career record and 14-4 record in SEC play

• Florida’s last walk-off grand slam was by Emily Wilkie against USF on April 19, 2023

UP NEXT:
The Gators will go for its third SEC series win on Sunday at 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.

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