The No. 1 ranked Florida Gators softball team began the season with a perfect weekend in Tampa followed by a midweek win against Jacksonville.
The Gators take their perfect 6-0 record into their home opener this weekend when they host the Aquafina Invitational tournament.
This weekend the Gators will play five games in three days against four different teams in Gainesville. Despite none of them being ranked, the Gators competition will still be tough.
Joining Florida in Gainesville will be Northwestern State, Maryland, FIU and Florida A&M.
Here’s the schedule for this weekend’s game.
- #1 Florida vs. FAMU on Friday at 3:45 P.M
- #1 Florida vs. Northwestern State on Friday at 6:00 P.M.
- #1 Florida vs. Maryland on Saturday at 11:15 A.M
- #1 Florida vs. Northwestern State on Saturday at 1:30 P.M
- #1 Florida vs. FIU on Sunday at 11:15 A.M
That’s a look at this weekend’s games, but let’s dig a little deeper into this weekend’s opponents in our scouting report. Here’s a quick scouting report on the Florida Gators softball team as well.
Scouting the Florida Gators:
It didn’t take long for the Gator established themselves in the national picture this year as they defeated two top-ranked teams last weekend. Florida was led by pitching in Tampa, which isn’t surprising when you look at who they’re running out there.
At the plate, Florida is being led by Amanda Lorenz who has hit three home runs and driven in eight runs already this year. Lorenz is hitting just .278 but is providing the power to the lineup.
Three-hole hitter Nicole DeWitt and freshman Jaime Hoover are leading the Gators with a .444 batting average and both have one home run and five RBI’s on the year.
In the circle, senior Delanie Gourley has already compiled a 3-0 record this year with two shutouts under her belt. Gourley hasn’t allowed a run in 15 innings pitched while she has struck out 24 batters. In total the Gators have given up just one earned run and three runs total through 40 innings pitched.
Scouting the Northwestern State Demons:
The ladies of Northwestern State enter with a 3-2 record this weekend and will face a no. 1 ranked team for the first time this year. The Lady Demons played a good Louisiana-Lafayette team closed last weekend and was leading by four runs late before blowing the lead.
Leading Northwestern State at the plate is Sidney Salmans who is hitting .467 on the year with five runs scored. Salmans leads the team in that department as well as in the hit category with her seven hits.
Kellye Kinannon leads the team in the power department with her one home run and five RBI’s. Kinannon also leads the tam with her 10 total bases so far this year.
In the circle, Mikayia Brown has started two games but is just 1-2 this year with a 4.42 ERA. Brown did throw a shutout in her one game and has struck out 12 hitters in her three games.
Scouting the Maryland Terrapins:
Maryland is still looking for its first win this year after they went 0-4 at the Texas Invitational last weekend.
Leading Maryland at the plate is freshman Amanda Brashear who is hitting .500 this year through five games. Fellow freshman Anna Kufta has hit two home runs through five games and added four RBI’s. Kufta has added two doubles and Brashear has one triple this year.
In the circle, Ari Jarvis has appeared in all five games for the Terps but is 0-2 in those appearances. Jarvis has an ERA of 5.72 and has walked 13 while striking out 12.
Florida leads the all-time series 1-0 after defeating Maryland in 2014.
Scouting the FIU Panthers:
FIU enters this weekend with a 5-1 record with the lone loss coming to Memphis in a close 3-2 game.
Kasandra Castle leads the team at the plate after being named the Conference USA player of the week this week. Castle had 12-RBI weekend last weekend and two home runs that helped her win that award.
Jackie Schoff leads the team with a .550 batting average and has scored eight runs while hitting two doubles.
In the circle, Megan Kugelmann leads the team with 0.45 ERA in three games this year. Kugelmann has one complete game and is 1-0 on the year while striking out seven hitters.
Shannon Salle will also lead FIU in the circle and she is 1-1 this year in two games started and has struck out 22 hitters.
Scouting the Florida A&M Rattlers:
FAMU enters the year with a 0-6 record that includes two losses to no.20 Kentucky over the weekend in Orlando.
In the circle, Veronica Burse leads the Rattlers with three appearances this year but is 0-2 in those starts.
Stay tuned to GatorCountry.com all weekend for updates on the Gators softball team.