Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult to imagine one of the top teams in the nation getting pumped up for a series against an opponent who has just one win in the conference.
But when No. 6 Florida (39-7, 17-4 Southeastern Conference) takes on South Carolina (11-37, 1-24 SEC) in a weekend series starting today at 1 p.m. in Gainesville, emotions figure to be running high as the Gators pay tribute to seniors Corrie Brooks and Francesca Enea, who will be playing in the final home series of their UF careers.
“It’s going to be an emotional weekend,” UF coach Tim Walton said. “We’re losing two kids that have started all four years of their careers and been cornerstones in our lineup. They’re good people, they were recruited very well, and they’ve been good people to be around so it’s going to be tough.”
The team is looking to channel all that emotion into the game in order to continue its stellar play as of late.
Even the freshmen realize how much the two seniors have meant to their development, and will look to use this weekend as a way to say thank you.
“I’m looking forward to playing with the seniors,” freshman Ensley Gammel said. “They’ve been very motivational and have had an impact on my freshman year so it’s going to be sad but we’re just going to have fun and let it all out.”
Judging off its last four games, the team doesn’t need any extra motivation.
The Gators have outscored their opponents by a combined 47-1 over the last four contests, with each of those games ending by way of the run rule.
Over that span UF pitchers have a WHIP of just 0.8, while Florida hitters have amassed a .561 on-base percentage.
And if those games against Mississippi State and North Florida are of any indication, the Gators would have no problem performing at their highest level against lesser competition even without the added motivation of senior day.
“We just can’t take any team for granted,” freshman Brittany Schutte said. “We just prepare every practice for every game as if we’re playing a really good team.”
“It doesn’t really matter where they stand, anybody can beat anybody on any given day. Everybody just has to bring their ‘A’ game when it’s time for it.”
If Florida can take care of business against South Carolina this weekend it still will have an outside shot at the SEC regular-season title.
However, its chances look to be a very slim, as first-place Alabama would have to drop a game against 10th place Mississippi State or have its entire weekend series rained out in order to drop to second.
Still, the Gators can clinch the number two seed in next week’s SEC tournament as long as they win at least two of three this weekend.
