The UF softball team will welcome the defending national champion, Florida State, to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Wednesday night.
The No. 8 Gators will face No. 3 FSU for the first of two matchups this season, and they will need to make some improvements to win this midweek contest.
Florida is 3-6 in the SEC and 4-6 this season against top-10 opponents, and it has struggled lately with fielding and hitting with runners in scoring position.
“I don’t think we’re any better or any worse than exactly where our (SEC) record is,” coach Tim Walton said. “There’s a ton of teams with below .500 records right now (in the SEC)… We’re no different, where in the past maybe we’ve been a little bit different than the rest of the pack.”
Making adjustments in the field
UF is tied for first in the NCAA in fielding percentage (.984), but it had a bad series defensively against Ole Miss last weekend.
The Gators had six errors in the three-games against the Rebels, and Ole Miss scored two unearned runs on those errors.
“(We) had some really nice defensive plays,” Walton said, “but a lot of other miscues extended innings, extended the games and ultimately cost us in the end.”
Shortstop Sophia Reynoso committed two errors in the series. Second baseman Hannah Adams, who didn’t make one error in 2018 but has three this season, allowed a ball to roll under her glove in the third inning on Sunday. And first baseman Amanda Lorenz let a run score when she couldn’t corral a throw from catcher Jordan Roberts, also in Sunday’s third inning.
Florida State possesses one of the most explosive offenses in the country. It’s second nationally in batting average (.368) and on-base percentage (.458) and third in slugging percentage (.652).
The Seminoles also only strike out on 14 percent of their at-bats.
Making clean and quick decisions with the ball will be critical against a team that puts it in play as much as FSU.
Making adjustments at the plate
Florida left 16 runners on base in its two losses to the Rebels, including 10 on Sunday alone.
Twice it had the bases loaded with less than two outs, and twice it left them loaded without scoring a run. UF also had an opportunity in Saturday’s second inning with Reynoso on third and no outs, but she was stranded for the entire frame.
“I think that’s been the biggest key for us is the lack of productivity with runners in scoring position,” Walton said. “Being ‘athlete tough’ is to do your best when it matters the most, and we haven’t been able to do that yet.”
The Gators must savor their opportunities against FSU, especially if they face its ace, Meghan King. The senior pitcher has an 18-1 record and has limited opposing batters to a .172 average this season.
Walton said he’s going to try to utilize freshman Cheyenne Lindsey and sophomore Jordan Matthews at the plate more this week.
Lindsey could step in for center fielder Alex Voss or utility player Jaimie Hoover, while Matthews may substitute in for catcher/designated player Jordan Roberts or right fielder Danielle Romanello. Roberts and Romanello lead the team in strikeouts with 29 and 26, respectively.
“Maybe we need to have a little bit more lineup diversity,” Walton said, “players that can do a little bit more, bunt, slap and hit the ball over people’s heads in the gaps."
Follow Mark Stine on Twitter @mstinejr and contact him at mstine@alligator.org.
Florida coach Tim Walton said utility player Cheyenne Lindsey could be used more at the plate this week against Florida State.
