(SB) Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Probably just emotionally and physically drained, they’ll be back. Solid team nobody should overlook.

 

Atleast she was dressed for tonight's game. Can't say the same for Hovermale, don't recall seeing her in uniform can't imagine anyone season ending injury and still dressing for the game

 

And that is why I am still suspect of OU. And I don't know that this weekend will answer questions about them either. Arkansas has been interesting.

 

Well, it seems Coastal shouldn't be overlooked. They are 22-4 with wins over Notre Dame, Kentucky, Georgia Tech (2x), Wisconsin and now USC.

 

I was impressed with Kara’s performance against a very good UCF team. Besides 4Ks, she forced 10 ground outs five flyouts on 95 pitches. If she can further cut down on BBs and HBPs, she is going to be affective for us. Her best role might be in relief. I’m sure when Keagan gets back she will be limited to number of pitches. Kara could fill a role for one to two innings.

 

Go hogs! Lol

 

HEAR FROM THE GATORS:
On the team's pitching depth this season…
"Last year I tried as hard as I could have to get an extra arm in there to compliment the freshmen. But I think Keagan, being that highly rated out of high school, scared some people off. So, these guys came in, and Katelynn Oxley has done a great job so far. Kara obviously is her best start for us at home, pitched really well at Houston and then in relief against Texas A&M, that's what she does. We didn't play particularly awesome behind her in a couple circumstances, but she rolled up a double play and we miscued that one and then the ground ball to second. Overall, I thought we played pretty well and she did a really good job. Just set that tempo and went toe to toe for us today." – head coach Tim Walton

On the long ball scoring two of Florida's three runs tonight…
"I think right now we're averaging about two home runs a game. Last year we had 100. A lot of home runs obviously graduated with Skylar, but we're never going to de-emphasize a home run, I can tell you that right now. I think the biggest key for us is I don't think anybody's really trying to hit home runs. You know, occasionally we have one or two that give it a little extra go. I think for the most part it's just when pitchers make mistakes, we've shown that we can get after it." – head coach Tim Walton

On how Kendra Falby's hitting approach has changed over the last couple of seasons…
"She had a really good at bat in the first, got down two in the first two pitches swinging out of the zone, and then worked it to a full count and then just tipped it. She tipped it in the catcher's glove, so she just missed it. The difference between Kendra now and the Kendra a few years ago, if she got out, she'd do something totally opposite the next at bat. It really had nothing to do with the pitcher. If she struck out slapping, she's going to hit. If she struck out hitting, she's going to slap. If she popped the bunt up, she's not going to bunt again. Now, she's a lot more process oriented. She goes to hit when she feels and sees. She goes to slap when she feels and sees. This weekend against Emiley Kennedy at Texas A&M, she slapped a ball over the shortstop's head. Today, she hits a home run over the left fielder, so I think it's more about feel and what she feels her swing do in the middle of her at bat." – head coach Tim Walton

On managing an increased workload early in the season…
"I came here for better competition; I think I've gotten that. Coach Steph (VanBrakle Prothro) makes me better; the team makes me better. Even at practice, everyone's pushing me and trying to help me grow. I think that translates to the field—just the growth. Trying to keep a good mindset and trusting my teammates, trusting in Coach Steph, trusting the catcher makes it a lot easier." – senior Kara Hammock

On hitting her second home run of the season…
"It was satisfying because they weren't expecting it. I don't think anyone was expecting it, but the coolest part was that it was my first home run out of the park as a Gator at our field. That was really exciting for me because I had an inside-the-park home run here my freshman year, but this was my first over-the-fence. So it was that much cooler." – senior Kendra Falby

On preparing for a tough Texas match up after falling to the Longhorns in the Women's College World Series in 2024…
"It's definitely in the back of our heads that we don't want that to happen again. But at the end of the day, our main focus is the Gators, and as long as we focus on ourselves, we're going to be fine. We want the fans to be on their feet and ready. We know they will; we know Gator Nation is behind us." – senior Kendra Falby

 

Great stuff! Funny how they’re talking about some of the exact things we’ve been discussing. Hate having to wait until Saturday for the series against Texas but it’s going to be a blast and mic’d up Monday should be fun!

 

I don't know if sny of you are on the college softball reddit thread but there is some funny stuff on there. Just read one post of a guy calling out softball america for not knowing ball because they don't have OU at 1 lol and someone pointed out that no one except their own fans have them as a unanimous 1 and that UF has the top wins of the 3 top teams right now. Dudes response was that OU was more impressive for sweeping without their ace (who even actually knows if Landry will be an ace) and that Lowry came into her own, but that UF dropped a game with their best pitcher. Lol.

 

If any one is a member of Florida Victorious, they are doing a Thursday tidbits with Taylor Shumaker tonight. Go to the message board and ask her some questions!

 

This is an interesting fact about last night against Lopez. First time through the lineup we struck out four times. After that, there were no strikeouts. We made adjustments and toward the end of the game, everyone was hitting the ball hard, the ball just didn’t fall in or find a gap. We hit them straight to the fielders. You do have to hand a good pitching effort by Lopez. She only gave up one walk, but it came around the score. She did handle our lineup pretty well the first couple rounds, except for those home runs. Jocey and Kendra made excellent adjustments during their HR at-bats, they hit the ball out.

 

Her ball had a lot of movement on it. We did adjust well enough. She will be good for UCF if she can perform like that consistently.

 

I was very impressed with UCF’s young pitcher. Not an easy task facing our lineup in KSP.

 

Auburn may not win the 5 games I previously predicted (GUESSED). They have a killer schedule and may be swept 4 more times as they play 4 of the top 5 teams, Tex, aTm, FL and Tenn.

 

Debating a flat earther would probably be more productive than talking softball with an OU fan.

 

You're probably right
I've given up on it. I just enjoy watching others do it lol.

 

Did y’all see that alexia Carrasquillo hit a grand slam for Liberty the other day? Believe at one time she was the youngest to commit for us. Don’t remember what happened with that.

 

Two MORE weeks or two weeks TOTAL?

(yeah, kinda grasping at straws here)