Florida faced USF opening weekend and came away with a 12-3 victory in Tampa.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 9 Florida softball program welcomes USF to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium for a solo midweek contest this Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m. on SEC Network +.
The Gators (34-6) enter the in-state matchup with the Bulls (27-15) after the program secured its fourth consecutive Southeastern Conference series victory of the season against LSU. Tomorrow’s opponent USF just wrapped up a series sweep at American Conference foe Memphis.
Florida’s offense, the nation’s third best scoring offense at 8.63 runs per game, has continued to make a major impact in games up to this point in the season. The high-powered attack that’s led to a program record 24 run-rule victories was utilized to secure a 6-5 come from behind victory in the series finale against LSU where UF trailed 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Kendra Falby came through with the bases loaded late game heroics as she ripped a three-RBI triple to left center that tied the game 5-5. The Orange and Blue eventually went on to win its first on its first walk-off of the season in the eighth inning.
The offense combined with a top-10 fielding defense has bolstered a young pitching staff that has led the nation with 18 shutouts on the season. Behind freshmen Keagan Rothrock (17-4) and Ava Brown (14-2), the staff ranks 13th nationally with an ERA of 1.93. Rothrock is tied for 3rd nationally with her 17 victories and Brown ranks 13th and their success makes it the first time in program history that UF has produced two freshmen pitchers to have at least 14 wins in the same season.
In other record-breaking news that’s quickly approaching is Skylar Wallace’s 108 career stolen bases are just five shy of the Florida career stolen base record set by Kelsey Stewart (113). The do-it-all speedster and reigning SEC Player of the Year has 26 stolen bases on the year and has plenty of time to not only break the record, but blow by it.
Jocelyn Erickson and Reagan Walsh are steady as they come and are major RBI producers for the program. Erickson currently leads the team with 51 RBI on the year and Walsh is closely behind with 46 on the year.
The Bulls are led at the plate by Alanah Rivera who boasts a .358 batting average that includes a team leading 24 RBI. In the circle, Payton Dixon (14-5) and Belle Sardja (10-7) pace the pitching staff with Dixon accounting for 124.0 innings pitched and Sardja close behind with 112.0 innings pitched.
After the conclusion of tomorrow’s midweek, the Gators will head to Columbia, Mo. to take on No. 14 Missouri this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Gators overall are 10-4 on the year against Top 25 opponents.
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