As the Florida softball team crosses into the back half of its Southeastern Conference schedule, a pair of freshmen are proving their worth as major contributors.
Outfielder Amanda Lorenz and pitcher Kelly Barnhill have made considerable contributions to the Gators’ success this season, a trend they will look to continue as No. 2 Florida (35-3, 9-3 SEC) travels to Mississippi (28-10, 4-5 SEC) for a weekend series that begins tonight at 7.
Both have made an immediate impact.
Both are confident beyond their years.
Both are chasing history.
If Lorenz’s hitting statistics endure, she will break several Florida freshman hitting records.
Among players with at least 80 at-bats, her .411 batting average is the highest on the team and well ahead of the freshman-record .378 mark set by Kelsey Stewart in 2013.
And with a team-leading on-base percentage of .536, Lorenz is also on pace to equal the team record — not just for freshmen, but for all players, set by Bailey Castro last year.
With 10 doubles and 30 walks to compliment 29 RBIs, Lorenz’s emergence as a consistent run producer has been a welcome boost for the Gators, especially since senior Kelsey Stewart is experiencing her worst offensive season in nearly every statistical category since her freshman year.
Despite only hitting leadoff in high school, Lorenz has adjusted well to her spot in the middle of the Gators’ lineup.
"Wherever (coach Walton) thinks is best, I’ll hit, and just try and do what’s best for the team" Lorenz said.
Barnhill is also having a solid rookie campaign. She's the only Florida pitcher this season who has not lost, compiling a 13-0 record and 1.36 ERA.
Despite her status as the youngest pitcher on the Gators’ staff, Barnhill has allowed just 37 hits and struck out 119 batters in 77 innings, both team bests. As a result, she ranks fourth in the nation in strikeouts per game (10.7). Additionally, opponents are only hitting .139 against her.
If the season concluded today, Barnhill would set the freshman ERA record and have the lowest-allowed batting average in program history.
"She came from high school and she struck pretty much every batter out that she’s faced," junior pitcher Delanie Gourley said.
"She’s made some really clutch pitches, had really great games for us, and it’s going to be a good season with her."
Contact Brian Lee at blee@alligator.org and you can follow him on Twitter @brianlee_17.
Amanda Lorenz bats during Florida's doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville on Feb. 17, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
