Gators
Skylar Wallace in the Gator softball team's loss to Auburn on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Hannah White.

Gators Softball Gears Up For Georgia

The No. 15 Florida Gators softball team will take on the No. 12 Georgia program at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The three-game series will begin Friday night and continue through Sunday afternoon.

In The Past

The Gators are coming off of a midweek win at home against the University of North Florida Ospreys. Florida won 6-1 and played its 16th game of the year with over 10 hits as the Gators lineup produced 11 Wednesday night. The team is 29-10 on the season and 6-6 in the Southeastern Conference, tied for sixth in rankings in that category.

The Bulldogs are also coming off of a midweek victory at their home turf Jack Turner Stadium. Georgia outscored Georgia Southern 9-1 in five innings, improving its winning record 32-8. The Bulldogs are ranked second in the SEC.

The last time the Gators and the Bulldogs faced off was in the 2021 season. Florida lost the series in back-to-back games at home, 6-0 and 4-0 even though the team has a winning record against Georgia in Gainesville and in Athens. The Gators home record is 19-15 and their away record is 20-10. This will be Georgia’s third time on the road in Gainesville. This matchup follows the 2021 NCAA Super Regional and the 2022 SEC tournament competitions.

Standout Gators

For the Gators, Skylar Wallace has been someone to watch at the plate. Wallace is batting .435 on the season with 40 hits and 35 RBIs. Her most hits in a game was at South Carolina earlier this season. She posted three. Wallace had the most runs batted in during a matchup against UAB late March with five. Charla Echols is also a threat to the Bulldogs defense. Echols marks a .373 batting average on the season. Consistently third in the Gators lineup, Echols has 41 hits and 47 RBIs. She had three hits in a game against Mercer early March, a season high. Echols also posted seven runs batted in during that same game.

Aiding the team in a wining record is Elizabeth Hightower who has been a standout in the circle all year. Hightower posts a 13-5 record with 51 strikeouts. Her season high for strikeouts in a game was against Boston College in February. She posted seven. Hightower has allowed 68 runs in overall and outscored opponents by 60. Back from injury is sophomore Lexie Delbrey. Delbrey has 37 strikeouts on the season and has a score of 85-54 against opponents. In a recent series against Auburn, Delbrey marked 8 strikeouts in one competition.

Into The Weekend

All three matchups against the Bulldogs are sold out in Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. This is the first time that Florida has experienced a sold-out stadium throughout the weekend. Friday’s game is set for 6 p.m., Saturday’s game is set for 2 p.m. and Sunday’s first pitch is set for noon. Two seniors Rylee Trlicek and Bryn Thomas will be celebrated before Saturday’s game for their contribution to the Florida softball program.

About Lauren Halpern

I'm an undergraduate student in the College of Journalism and Communications working towards a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. With a specialization in sports and media, my involvement in ESPN Gainesville, Reptile Report, and The University Athletic Association has given me good introductory experience in the sports media industry. I'm seeking a sports broadcasting position as a reporter where my high energy personality and passion for athletics is communicated to the public. As an athlete myself, it's important to me to work on a supportive and hard-working team. I look forward to connecting with you!

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