The winner-take-all Game 3 between No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 6 Florida was stopped in the bottom of the first inning at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium due to lightning, forcing a delay as officials monitor when play can resume.
For the second-seeded rhythm of Game 3, it lasted only an inning.
At Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, the Gainesville Super Regional between No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 6 Florida was halted in the bottom of the first inning as lightning moved through the area. Florida held an early 4-3 lead when play stopped.
The delay came after two very different outcomes in the best-of-three series. Texas Tech, the reigning national runner-up, won the first game on Friday. Florida answered on Saturday with a 10-2 victory, teeing off on Texas Tech star pitcher NiJaree Canady.
Florida’s performance in that Saturday win included Madison Walker speaking on the tournament run. with Keagan Rothrock earning a Super Regional win for the Gators. Rothrock received two IVs after pitching four innings in the 10-8 loss to Texas Tech. but she then returned on Saturday to complete the game.
Game 3 has now been paused in a way players and coaches have little control over: the weather.
The clock started stretching again at 12:58 p.m. Eastern. when Florida and Texas Tech’s matchup in Game 3 was stopped because of lightning within eight miles of the stadium. Under the game’s lightning rule. every time a lightning strike occurs in the vicinity. 30 minutes must pass with no lightning before play can resume.
The surrounding forecast offered no immediate relief. At 1 p.m., rain was projected for much of the rest of the day Sunday in Gainesville, with thunderstorms expected early in the evening, according to The Weather Channel.
The hour-by-hour outlook showed the risk tightening through the afternoon and into the night: a 69% chance of light rain at 2 p.m. a 59% chance of rain at 3 p.m. and a 22% chance of rain at 4 p.m. Rain chances rose again at 5 p.m. with a 51% chance of showers, followed by a 100% chance of light rain at 6 p.m. and 100% chance of heavy thunderstorms at 7 p.m. The forecast then stayed volatile. with heavy thunder chances continuing—83% at 8 p.m. 82% at 9 p.m.—before shifting to a 52% chance of scattered thunderstorms at 10 p.m. 24% chance of rain at 11 p.m. and another 24% chance around midnight.
With the series hinging on this winner-take-all Game 3, the stoppage turns a familiar NCAA pressure point into a waiting game, as officials and teams wait for the sky to clear enough for the action to restart.
NCAA softball super regional Texas Tech Florida softball Keagan Rothrock Madison Walker NiJaree Canady weather delay lightning rule Gainesville Super Regional