When Kelsey Stewart arrived at Florida, she was the No. 2 softball recruit in the country. But when she stepped into the batter’s box for the first time on Friday afternoon, she was just another freshman trying to make a name for herself.
She succeeded.
In her first five games as a Gator, Stewart hit .556 on 10 hits in 18 at-bats. Of those 10 hits, two were doubles, one was a triple and two left the park.
Stewart ended the weekend with an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.730.
And when the ball stayed in the yard, Stewart made the most of her time on base. She stole five bases and scored 10 runs.
The Southeastern Conference recognized Stewart’s efforts, naming the freshman SEC Player of the Week.
“I’ve never had so much fun playing softball,” she said.
Stewart was one of six freshmen who took the field for the Gators at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., this weekend.
Most of those six were major contributors to No. 14 Florida’s (5-0) dominant victories at the Classic.
Outfielder Kirsti Merritt followed Stewart in the order and made some noise with her own bat.
Merritt had five hits and drew three walks for an on-base percentage of .526. She drove in six runs during the weekend, including four on a grand slam against Creighton (2-3) on Friday.
Merritt’s bases-loaded homer helped the Gators run-rule the Bluejays.
“One of the things that stood out to me is just the leadership that Kirsti Merritt showed in the outfield,” coach Tim Walton said.
First baseman Taylor Schwarz didn’t rack up as many hits as Stewart and Merritt, but when she did connect with the ball, she made the opposition pay.
Schwarz’s only two hits were home runs.
The first homer came in the fourth inning against No. 3 California (2-2) with Florida down 3-2. Schwarz’s two-run bomb gave the Gators a lead they did not relinquish.
The second came against No. 13 Arizona (3-2) on Sunday. With Florida up 8-3, Schwarz started a six-run inning with a solo home run.
Senior Ensley Gammel followed Schwarz with a home run of her own, and the Gators went on to win 14-3.
Florida freshmen accounted for five of the Gators’ eight home runs, 11 of their 18 extra-base hits and 18 of their 26 RBIs.
“I don’t know if that’s going to continue,” Walton said.
“But … I think the competitiveness at the plate was really good.
“If you compete like we did and swing at quality pitches, foul off some tough pitches, I think we’re going to be in position to hit home runs.”
Coach Tim Walton signals to a base runner during Florida’s 3-1 victory against Auburn on April 14, 2012 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Walton has started freshman Taylor Schwarz at first base in every Southeastern Conference game.
