Any doubts about how No. 2 Texas softball would fare in the Southeastern Conference were shut down after the Longhorns picked up their first SEC series win against the No. 3 Florida Gators.

The Longhorns beat the Gators 7-2 and 13-7 in a doubleheader in Gainesville on Saturday. However, Texas would stumble into its second loss of the season, dropping the concluding game of the series with a close 3-1 loss.

Tied at the top of the fourth inning during the first game, senior utility Mia Scott singled to right field, bringing in two runs. Then, junior catcher Reese Atwood busted the score open, hitting a laser of a two-run homer to bring Texas up by four runs. Between both games, Atwood became the first player in program history with at least 45 home runs and 175 RBIs.

Florida attempted to stage a comeback in the bottom half of the fourth inning, but without its sophomore star pitcher Keagan Rothrock, it was too little too late. The Gators were only able to score one more run, which the Longhorns quickly matched with a sacrifice fly from graduate infielder Joley Mitchell.

Thanks to the Longhorns’ pitching performance, the Gators were limited. Sophomore pitcher Teagan Kavan dominated, winning the pitching battle 10-1, throwing five strikeouts, and allowing just two runs against the Gators. For a Florida team averaging nine runs per game and the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the nation, these numbers were surprising. Senior Mac Morgan relieved Kavan in the fifth inning, earning her first save of the season.

The Longhorns had to keep the excitement of their first SEC win at bay, facing the Gators again around 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

The Longhorns hit their first moment of true adversity when the Gators went up by two runs in the first inning. What followed was a run of big hitting battles between the two heavy-hitting teams.

In the top of the third, Texas scored off of a three-run homer by Scott. The Longhorns tacked on three more runs to bring the lead 6-2 before Florida’s offense responded with five unearned runs in the fourth.

Tied 7-7 at the top of the sixth inning and with their backs up against the wall, the Longhorns offense erupted and scored six runs. Senior first baseman and catcher Katie Cimusz hit her second home run of the day, this one being a three-run homer that put the Longhorns up 10-7.

“For me, I just wanted to be on time and be on plane with the pitches,” Cimusz said. “I know I was a little behind on some during the first game and I wanted to look for pitches I could drive.”

The offense momentum carried as Texas extended the lead by three more runs.

In the circle, junior pitcher Citaly Gutierrez got the start but was relieved by Morgan after the first inning when Texas went down two runs. Kavan came in the fourth inning to calm the storm, throwing three strikeouts, only allowing one run, and picking up her eleventh win of the season

“Obviously, it was a tough day, mentally draining, but it was a good win during the first game,” head coach Mike White said. “Both teams hit the ball really well, so the second game was really back and forth for a while, then Teagan (Kavan) was able to work her way out of it to shut the door when we needed her. And then Katie Cimusz had a huge day for us as well.”

The Longhorns took Sunday off to let the storms pass in the area and finished the series Monday, with a 3-1 loss in the final game of the series.

Texas continued its streak of hot starts in the Monday matchup, scoring in the first inning. However, Texas did not have any movement on the scoreboard for the rest of the game.

Florida scored in two consecutive innings to take the lead. Freshman outfielder Taylor Shumaker opened the scoring for the Gators in the third inning with a double to left center, bringing in two runners. Then, in the fourth, the Gators scored one more run.

Thanks to solid pitching from Florida’s freshman Katelynn Oxley and a closing two innings from sophomore pitcher Ava Brown, Florida was able to put a stop to the usual fiery Texas offense. Brown allowed just two hits and threw two strikeouts.

No. 2 Texas returns to the field on Friday, March 21 at 4 p.m. CT to host its first SEC series against No. 20/22 Auburn.