Gator Softball Look For Season Sweep Against USF

The second ranked Florida Gator softball team is on its second longest winning streak of the season at eight games. UF started the season 28-0 before losing to LSU in mid-March. The Gators own a perfect non-conference record. The USF Bulls are coming into town for their second meeting against Florida this year. Both teams met in the beginning of the year when the Gators came from behind to win the game 10-5. Florida coach Tim Walton believes USF’s offense is one of the best they have faced. “Probably one of the most dynamic offenses that USF has had since we have seen them. They do a lot of nice things. They got some speed, some power. Pretty balanced.” Senior Lauren Haeger has contributed tremendously this year for the Gators. After spending her first three years in the shadows of Hannah Rogers, Haeger has emerged as the ace of the pitching staff. She is a perfect 19-0 on the year with a 1.03 earned run average. Along with Aleshia Ocasio and Delanie Gourley, the Florida pitching staff is ranked first in ERA in the SEC. Walton is impressed with how far his senior has come. “She has been a great number two pitcher for us for three years. And now she has really stepped up and has taken the first game of each series and has taken it head on.” Wednesday’s game is another chance for Florida second baseman Kelsey Stewart to catch up with her national team coach. USF’s head coach Ken Eriksen is also the head coach of the USA Softball Women’s National Team. USF is 32-12 on the season. Lee Ann Spivey is their leading hitter at .412 on the year with 9 homers and 44 runs batted in; no other USF player has more than 21 RBI. The team batting average is .317. USF has a deep pitching staff with four pitchers more or less sharing the pitching load as no pitcher has more than nine wins. The team earned run average is 2.19. First pitch tonight is at 6 p.m. For full audio clips of quotes above and more, click below: Walton proud to play error-free softball Walton talks about Lauren Haeger Walton on

USF’s season Walton’s thoughts on the USF offense Walton on what it means to face the bigger school