When Taylor Schwarz arrived at Florida, it was unclear how much playing time she would see.
The freshman first baseman was behind sophomore Lauren Haeger on the depth chart, but Schwarz’s solid defensive play pushed her into a starting role.
Now 39 games into her first college season, her bat is heating up to match her fielding.
“In the beginning of the season, maybe she was a little bit timid,” coach Tim Walton said.
Added Schwarz: “I think my confidence has gone up.”
The freshman’s first season in college started with a bang.
At the Gators first tournament of the year in Tempe, Ariz., Schwarz hit two home runs — her first two hits at the college level.
But when Florida returned from the West Coast, her production dropped off. Through the Gators’ first 12 games, she batted .125.
“I was a little intimidated, a little nervous.” Schwarz said early in the year. “High school softball wasn’t as big of a deal. … I think college softball is a big step up. I’m always expecting to play the best.”
But since her early-season slump, Schwarz has stepped up at the plate. She has raised her average to .275 and hit another two home runs.
In Southeastern Conference play, Schwarz has been one of No. 3 Florida’s (36-3, 10-2 SEC) biggest contributors at the plate.
She leads the team with a .355 batting average and is second with a .500 on-base percentage.
“Once we started facing better pitching and better teams, I just stepped into the box knowing that I was facing a good pitcher, so whatever was going to happen, it was going to be a battle,” Schwarz said. “If I won, I won. If I lost, then I was going to go the next time.”
Walton has rewarded Schwarz for her improved play.
She is one of only four Gators who has started every SEC game. Schwarz will likely get the starting nod when Florida plays Mississippi State (23-12, 2-7 SEC) this weekend in a three-game series at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
“As a freshman, she’s playing every game now,” Walton said. “That has also built her confidence to know that she can have a strikeout, have a bad game, and she’s going to play the next day.”
Although Schwarz has seen her plate prowess improve, she has remained a consistent fielder and has not made an error this season.
“Her defense is what sets her apart from all of our other first basemen,” Walton said. “And now she’s being able to drive in runs, hit some home runs, get on base and do some things. So (she’s) definitely becoming much more complete.”
Contact Adam Lichtenstein at alichtenstein@alligator.org.
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.
