Jocelyn Erickson and Kenleigh Cahalan Receive AUSL Golden Tickets on Florida’s Senior Day

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jocelyn Erickson and Kenleigh Cahalan received AUSL Golden Tickets on Florida’s Senior Day Saturday, with MLB Network host AJ Andrews delivering the awards on the field at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium following the Gators’ home finale against Auburn.

Erickson, a two-time Gold Glove catcher and 2024 NFCA Division I Player of the Year, was speechless during the ceremony, per WCJB’s televised coverage. Cahalan, an infielder who moved to shortstop for her senior season, received her ticket shortly after. Team assignments will be announced at the AUSL College Draft Show on May 4 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2, when Commissioner Kim Ng and league general managers make the picks live.

Jocelyn Erickson

Erickson has built one of the most decorated careers in Florida softball history. She earned the 2024 NFCA Division I Player of the Year award and the 2024 SEC Player of the Year award, and she claimed back-to-back Rawlings Gold Glove awards at catcher in 2024 and 2025.

On3’s scouting report credited Erickson with a .450 batting average, 19 home runs, 67 RBIs, a .566 on-base percentage and a .964 slugging percentage through the first 45 games of her senior season. Her strikeout-to-walk discipline — 34 walks against just 13 strikeouts per On3.

Kenleigh Cahalan

Cahalan’s transition to shortstop for her senior year gave Florida another offensive weapon alongside Erickson at the top of the order. On3 reported 15 home runs through 45 games with just 4 errors in 80 defensive chances at short — a combination of range and reliability at a position the AUSL clubs have been building toward.

A 2024 All-SEC Second Team selection who posted a .302 average and 10 home runs the prior season, Cahalan has increased her power output in 2026 over 2025 totals.

A Gator Pipeline to the Pros

Saturday’s ceremony adds two more names to a Florida softball pipeline that has produced professionals such as Skylar Wallace, Aleshia Ocasio, Amanda Lorenz, Korbe Otis and Kendra Falby. Which AUSL franchise drafts Erickson and Cahalan will be decided May 4.

The day on the field carried a harder note: Florida dropped a 4-0 decision to Auburn, the program’s first home shutout in two years, with eight runners left on base. It was a tough finish to a Senior Day that, off the field, was defined by recognition rather than the scoreboard.

Looking Ahead

Erickson and Cahalan join a 2026 Golden Ticket class that stood at 14 players after Saturday’s announcements; Oregon’s Amari Harper has since been added. The class also includes catchers Sydney Stewart (Arizona) and Reese Atwood (Texas), infielders Leighann Goode (Texas) and Taryn Kern (Stanford), pitchers NiJaree Canady (Texas Tech), Karlyn Pickens (Tennessee) and Kenzie Brown (Arizona State), and outfielder Dakota Kennedy (Arkansas). The AUSL season opens June 9.