No. 5 Gator Softball Prepares for No. 8 FSU

The Florida Gator softball team (41-7) gets its chance to defeat in-state rival, Florida State University (38-8) on their home field, the same way FSU did in Tallahassee earlier this season. The rivals will meet Wednesday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium at 6 p.m.

Last season FSU and UF split the series, 1-1, with walk-off hits.

The Last Matchup

On April 11, the Gators fell, 4-1, to the Seminoles in the first game of the Fresh from Florida Sunshine Showdown. FSU pitcher Kylee Hanson (20-3) held the Gators to just two hits and one run.  An RBI double by Kayli Kvistad allowed Alex Voss to put the lone run on the board.

UF Sweeps Mississippi State

But the Gators have been in a scoring frenzy since then. Florida is coming off a conference sweep over Mississippi State. Gator offense combined for 17 runs in the three-game series over the weekend. A grand slam from Amanda Lorenz in game one and a complete-game shutout from Kelly Barnhill (21-1) in game two pumped up the Gators.

Here's the GM ✌️highlights of our 10th shutout over a Top 25 opponent‼️#GoGators 🐊 #TheEdge pic.twitter.com/5b2t2AM6GP

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 21, 2018

Having runs on the board and Barnhill and Aleshia Ocasio (16-5) in the circle gave the batters confidence to step up to the plate swinging.

Posted a .636 batting average with seven hits, seven runs scored and eight RBI in a 4-0 week for @GatorsSB.@amandalorenz18 is the #SECSB Player of the Week. pic.twitter.com/Y1SrgXwPQk

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) April 24, 2018

In game one, Lorenz hit her seventh home run of the season. In game two, she hit her second grand slam of the season. She also picked up her second Southeastern Conference Player of the Week of the season. Lorenz had a .636  average at the plate this week with a .714 on-base percentage.

FSU Dominates at Home

The Gators aren’t the only team who is sweeping weekend series. In three games, Florida State defeated Louisville 15-1 in Tallahassee. The Noles even run-ruled the Cardinals, 8-0, in game two.

T6 3-1 FSU | Kylee Hanson heads back into the circle for the sixth inning and was just drafted No. 5 overall in the @profastpitch draft by the @CLE_Comets! pic.twitter.com/TzNUeKqta5

— Florida State Softball 🥎 (@FSU_Softball) April 24, 2018

Hanson improved to 23-3 on the season, after she retired the final 19 batters she faced. Hanson allowed one run on one hit with zero walks and six strikeouts. For the 16th time this season, she has given up two or fewer hits in an appearance. It’s the 10th time in her last 12 games.

✅ Top Ten Matchup
✅Sunshine Showdown
✅ Wednesday Night

Enough Said.

See you tomorrow night!#WeChomp pic.twitter.com/rVw8oketRr

— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 24, 2018

The Top 10 teams will square off in Gainesville at 6 p.m. to conclude this year’s Florida Sunshine Showdown.