The No. 2 ranked Florida Gators softball team started SEC play by going 2-0 against Missouri before Monday’s game was canceled due to rain.
The Gators take their 23-1 record on the road this weekend to continue SEC play in a three-game series.
This weekend the Gators will take on South Carolina who enters with a 19-7 record and receiving votes in the top 25 poll this week.
Entering this weekend the SEC has 9 teams ranked in the top 25 and Arkansas is just outside of the top 25 this weekend.
How the teams have fared in conference play:
Florida comes in with a 2-0 conference record after last weekend’s series sweep against Missouri.
South Carolina enters with a 1-2 conference record after they dropped the last two games on the road to Tennessee last weekend. South Carolina run-ruled Tennessee in the first game of the series last weekend.
In the batter’s box:
The Gators’ bats are doing much better the last few weeks including a 13-run outburst on Wednesday against North Dakota State.
Leading the Gators is Kayli Kvistad who is .463 on the year with two home runs and 17 RBI’s. Kvistad also leads the team with 30 walks this year and an impressive .659 on-base percentage.
Sophomore Amanda Lorenz is adjusting to her new role as the Gators leadoff well and is hitting .388 this season. Lorenz leads the team with four home runs and reached base in every game this year.
A big reason the Gators offense is cooking right now is because of Janell Wheaton’s recent hot streak. Her batting average has risen all the way to .255 on the year and she now has three home runs and 14 RBI’s on the year. When Wheaton’s is hitting, the Gators offense does well.
In the circle:
The Gators pitching staff put together another impressive weekend where they didn’t allow a run. The Gators team ERA is now 0.62 on the year.
Kelly Barnhill continues to lead the way with her 0.25 ERA and is 9-0 in 12 appearances this year. Barnhill has struck out 110 batters in 56.2 innings pitched.
South Carolina scouting report
South Carolina is led at the plate by Krystan White who is hitting .413 on the year with 27 RBI’s and two home runs.
In the power department, Mackenzie Boesel leads South Carolina with four home runs on the year and is also hitting .367 on the year.
In the circle, South Carolina uses a three-man pitching staff and that is led by Jessica Elliott who is 8-3 on the year. Elliott has a 2.01 ERA and has thrown five complete games this year.
Player to watch:
For Florida:
I went with Janell Wheaton last weekend and I have to continue with her this weekend. Wheaton has moved back into her cleanup spot in the lineup and that gives Kvistad protection in the lineup.
Here’s the schedule for this weekend’s game.
- #2 Florida vs. South Carolina on Friday at 7:00 P.M. on ESPN3
- #2 Florida vs. South Carolina on Saturday at 2:00 P.M on ESPN3
- #2 Florida vs. South Carolina on Sunday at 1:00 P.M on ESPN3