The Gators will travel to DeLand, Fla. to take on the Hatters Tuesday at 6 p.m. then will host a game Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The fifth-ranked Florida softball team will make the quick turnaround to play a pair of midweek games against Stetson Tuesday, March 22, in DeLand at 6 p.m. and at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium Wednesday, March 23, at 6 p.m. Fans can watch Tuesday’s game on ESPN+ and Wednesday’s via SEC Network +.
The Gators (25-3) enter the week after the program secured its 11th consecutive Southeastern Conference regular season series. The team took the series over Texas A&M 2-1 in College Station this past weekend with wins on Friday and Sunday and the last time the Orange and Blue lost a SEC regular season series occurred during the last series of the 2019 regular season against Mississippi State.
UF’s offense enters the week ranked eighth nationally in batting average as the team hold a .351 mark at the plate and is led by freshman Kendra Falby (.453), fifth year senior Hannah Adams (.427), redshirt-junior Skylar Wallace (.425) and sophomore Katie Kistler (.412).
In addition, the team sports a .434 on base percentage which has provided plenty of opportunities for the middle of the order to drive in runs. Wallace leads the team with 30 RBI, while senior Charla Echols holds 29 RBI and freshman Reagan Walsh has driven in 27 on the year.
Speed has also played a critical role in the Gators offensive success so far this season as the team has stolen 71 bases. Wallace and Falby currently rank first and second in the SEC this year with 22 and 21 stolen bases respectively.
In the circle, Florida has relied upon the entire pitching staff this season as all six have made at least one start and one appearance this year. 2021 NFCA Third Team All-American Elizabeth Hightower is the anchor of the staff as she holds the most innings pitched with 52.1 innings to her credit this season and holds an unblemished 8-0 record.
Following closely behind Hightower is fifth-year graduate right-hander Natalie Lugo and freshman right-hander Lexie Delbrey. Lugo sports a 1.25 ERA over 39.1 innings pitched, while Delbrey comes into the week with a 1.88 ERA over 52.0 innings and Hightower holds a 1.37 ERA.
The Hatters (12-18) enter the week after taking their ASUN conference series opener, 2-1, at North Alabama this past weekend. At the plate, they are led by Brianna Clary, Danielle Diaz, Morgan Evette and Haley Fox as the group all sport batting averages over .300.
The Stetson pitching staff holds a team 4.68 ERA with four pitchers all having over 30.0 innings of work in the circle. Lauren Hobbs holds a team-best 3.02 ERA over 59.2 innings with 39 strikeouts and a .266 batting average against.
After the conclusion of the pair of midweek games, the Gators return to SEC action as the team will host Tennessee at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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