No. 17 Gators Set for Midweek Action Against Dolphins
Florida will travel to Jacksonville Tuesday, Feb. 13, for a solo game at 6 p.m. then host JU for the 2024 home opener Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No.17-ranked Florida softball team continues action with a pair of midweek contests against Jacksonville University this Tuesday, Feb. 13, in Jacksonville and Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. for its 2024 home opener at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators (4-1) enter the week after a successful opening weekend at the USF-Rawlings Invitational down in Tampa. The Orange & Blue picked up a pair of five-inning victories over Illinois State and Bethune-Cookman and outscored opponents 42-6.
Fans were also treated to several outstanding pitching performances as freshmen Ava Brown (2-0) and Keagan Rothrock combined for just the second ever one-hitter by a pair of freshmen in program history as Florida opened the season with a 1-0 win over Oregon State. Rothrock (1-1, 1 SV) earned her first career start the following day against Michigan and hurled a complete-game one-hitter in the 2-1 (10) extra-innings loss.
Olivia Miller concluded the series of debut pitching starts for the freshman trio in grand fashion as she hurled program’s eighth ever complete-game perfect game in the 16-0 five-inning win over Bethune-Cookman. It’s also the first ever perfect game thrown by a freshman in program history and the effort led to the first ever SEC Freshman of the Week honor for the Orlando native.
Florida’s offense kicked into high-gear in the final three games of the USF-Rawlings Invitational as it churned out 10 or more runs for three consecutive games to close out the weekend, which made it the first time in program history that UF has achieved that during opening weekend.
The Orange & Blue boasts a .320 team average at the plate with 10 doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 23 walks to go along with 13 stolen bases. Skylar Wallace leads with a .500 (8-for-16) batting average, with Kendra Falby hitting .429 (9-for-21) and freshman Ariel Kowalewski batting .400 (6-for-15) following closely behind.
The Dolphins (2-2) enter the week with a pair of wins over Ball State and Fordham in the River City Leadoff last weekend. JU is led offensively by Allison Bratek (.583), Kailey Harrigan (.500) and Madison Bratek (.462), while rely on the pitching staff of Shelby Harpe (0.00 ERA), Ashley Harwood (0.00 ERA), Skylar Waggoner (2.25 ERA) and Reese Wells (3.00 ERA).
Ticketing
Fans can still purchase single game tickets for the home opener Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. through the Gators Ticket Office<https://am.ticketmaster.com/gators/buy?id=NjQz>.
Upcoming Promotions
February 14 | Jacksonville | Home Opener | Poster Giveaway
The Florida Gators host Jacksonville in their first home game of the season. Fans can collect the 2024 schedule poster and will have the opportunity to win Valentine’s Day themed prizes.
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Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter<https://twitter.com/_TimWalton>
Florida Softball on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/GatorsSB>
