Imagine playing a softball game, looking up, and seeing a rocket shoot into the sky.
And no, it was not an April Fool's prank.
🏆 WHO'S ON TOP? Check out the shakeups in the top 5 of the latest Power 10
That's just one of the crazy moments that happened this week in college softball. Check them out below.
1. Florida-Stetson game halts to watch Artemis II launch
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...a rocket?
Florida junior Madison Walker pointed up to the sky in the middle of the Gators' Wednesday, April 1, contest against Stetson, locating Artemis II as it launched into space in its expedition to the moon.
They stopped the Florida-Stetson softball game to watch the Artemis rocket taking off Wednesday. This is great:
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis)
The crowd – and the game – stood still with the perfect view from Deland, Fla., as the rocket soared overhead.
Then in the sixth inning, Walker had a launch of her own, blasting her seventh home run of the year for a two-run RBI to seal the Gators' 8-2 win.
2. Kylee Edwards hits first cycle in LSU history
On Friday, Kylee Edwards etched her name into the record books.
In LSU's matchup at Missouri, Edwards recorded her eighth home run of the season in the third inning, singled in the fifth, doubled in the sixth and then tripled in the seventh to become the first-ever Tiger to hit for the cycle.
The junior went 4-for-6 with four RBIs in her historic day, propelling LSU to its 16-4 rout over Mizzou.
WE ARE ALL WITNESSES. KYLEE. EDWARDS.
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball)
3. Kent State football x softball collab
Straight from the turf to the diamond, the Kent State football team rallied around the softball team in their game against Bowling Green.
The Flash found themselves in a 5-0 deficit about halfway through the matchup. That is, until the football player showed up, arriving directly from spring practice, still in their pads and helmets but just in time for the bottom of the fourth.
Kent State’s Football team rolled up to the Softball game right after practice
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness)
Incredible
The atmosphere was bouncing in Devine Diamond, as the Golden Flashes flipped the script and quickly cut the deficit to 6-5 after the Eagles platted another. Entering the sixth frame, Caleigh Shaulis delivered a bases-loaded single to grab the 7-6 edge.
The comeback win was clinched as Meadow Ferri came into the seventh with two runners on. She hurled a strikeout and forced a flyout to earn her first save of the season.
4. Kennedy Powell delivers inside-the-park home run
The No. 15 Texas A&M Aggies secured a massive series win over No. 11 Georgia after a doubleheader on Friday.
In the second game of the series, senior Kennedy Powell stepped up to the plate with nobody on and two outs, trailing 9-5 in the bottom of the sixth. On a 2-1 count, Powell knocked a base hit to deep left. But she wanted more.
KEEP UP:
The Georgia outfielder scrambled to put out Powell as she headed for second, but instead, the attempt from the cutoff was overthrown. As the ball ricocheted between the first base dugout and right field, Powell rounded third.
Diving into home, she safely secured an inside-the-park home run as the throw to the plate was just off the mark. The Aggies ended up falling 10-6 in the second but clinched the series with a 2-1 win in the third game.
WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED.
— Texas A&M Aggies 👍 (@12thMan)
5. No. 1 Texas & No. 8 Tennessee fall on Friday
Friday may have been the day of the underdog as two top-10 teams were handed a loss.
South Carolina bested No. 8 Tennessee 5-1 after the Gamecocks put on a dominant performance in the circle. Righty Jori Heard held the Vols to one run on four hits with three strikeouts to pitch a complete game.
📺 WATCH: Texas' softball facility tour with Kayden Henry and Leighann Goode
Later that night, all eyes were on Tuscaloosa as the Tide rolled past No. 1 Texas 11-4 to tie the series. No. 5 Alabama was down 4-0 before a six-run frame in the bottom of the second that turned the momentum.
Ambrey Taylor acted as a key piece in the win as one of four Alabama players with multiple hits, knocking a solo home run and a 2 RBI single. Vic Moten took care of business, tossing 5.1 innings while only allowing three Longhorns baserunners after reentering the game in the third.
DOWN GOES NO. 1 TEXAS 🤯
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork)
Alabama gets its first win over a No. 1 ranked team since 2020!
The rubber matches for both No. 8 Tennessee vs. South Carolina and No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Alabama will take place later today.