UF SB: No. 4 Gators Set to Host Golden Eagles for Midweek Tilt

Wednesday’s contest will only be the fourth time the two programs will clash on the diamond and the first since 2006.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The fourth-ranked Florida softball team continues action Wednesday, March 2, with a midweek game at 6 p.m. against Southern Mississippi at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. UF enters the week after it went 4-0 this past weekend at The Knights Classic in Orlando.
The Gators (16-0) and the Golden Eagles (11-5) look to square off for the first time since March 4 & 5, 2006. The Orange & Blue took both games 4-1 and 3-1, and previously only met one other time prior to those meetings. The program also won that contest 7-0, which took place Feb. 15, 2003 in Gainesville.
Florida wrapped up a successful weekend in Orlando to remain only one of four undefeated teams left in the country. The team was tested on the final day against James Madison and host UCF, but willed their way to victory behind a potent offense.
Southern Miss enters the week after a 3-1 weekend as the host of the Hub City Challenge in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Golden Eagles picked up a pair of wins over Alcorn State and split with Evansville. Their team is led offensively by Destini Brown and Hannah Borden, who both boast a .324 average at the plate, and Morgan Leinstock in the circle, who sports a 1.54 ERA with 41 strikeouts through 45.1 innings pitched.
Fans can follow the action of tomorrow’s game through live stats<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_showcase-3FLive-3D3778&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Hzu169BDBoJQV_uUndGy5JH7agkM8akdVewWFNoaj11Ze3AN0bYL9LTibcSl8rfE&s=qhIWTF7aVxMVR1LoN2jeU5xDeHOyeTPtP5LuhVoWVz0&e= > or streaming audio<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__floridagators.com_showcase-3FLive-3D3778&d=DwIFAg&c=sJ6xIWYx-zLMB3EPkvcnVg&r=o5LKAX7slotfFMyE71jI7L22NYBIi1-KbRGNSXudTPo&m=Hzu169BDBoJQV_uUndGy5JH7agkM8akdVewWFNoaj11Ze3AN0bYL9LTibcSl8rfE&s=qhIWTF7aVxMVR1LoN2jeU5xDeHOyeTPtP5LuhVoWVz0&e= >.
Falby SEC Freshman of the Week
Freshman Kendra Falby earned her second SEC Freshman of the Week honor in as many weeks after another fantastic week at the plate for the Gators. The Odessa, Fla. native batted .476 (10-for-21) with seven runs scored, six stolen bases, five RBI and belted the second home run of her career in a pivotal game against the Knights.
Falby currently leads the nation in total hits (27) and stolen bases (16). She also ranks second in the nation and first among freshmen in runs scored (22).
Catch the Gators…If You Can
Through 16 games played the Gators are 45-of-49 on stolen bases this season. The mark currently ranks tied for second most stolen bases nationally, first in the SEC, and it’s the most stolen bases through 16 games since 2013 when the program was 43-of-47.
Offensive Outburst
The Gators enter the week with a team batting average of .367, which currently ranks fourth nationally and second in the SEC behind Kentucky’s .379 mark. The average also marks the best for the Gators through the first 16 games in program history, the 156 hits are also the most through the first 16 games and the 127 runs scored are the third most scored behind the 131 scored in 2014 and 139 scored in 2015.
Adams Goes Yard Twice
Fifth year senior Hannah Adams belted the first two home runs of her season in the win over James Madison this past Sunday. Adams finished the game 3-for-4, which tied her season-high, and it was the first time she went yard twice in a game since Penn March 10, 2020.
Echols Heating Up
NFCA All-American Charla Echols didn’t get off to the best start to the 2022 season as she only manage one hit through the first four games. However, the Newnan, Ga. native flipped a switch and is batting .455 (15-of-33) since then and has produced 20 RBI, three home runs, two doubles and 12 runs scored.
Small Ball
The Gators successful start to the season at the plate has included the ability to not only bunt, but bunt for base hits. So far this season the Gators have successfully bunted for 17 base hits out of 21 attempts for a .810 average. In addition, the Orange and Blue has contributed five additional SAC bunts on the