Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 5 Florida welcomes Western Kentucky for a pair of regular season games and Softball Canada for a solo exhibition contest this Saturday and Sunday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. UF will take on WKU Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. on the SEC Network +, and Softball Canada Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

The Gators (29-4) enter the week after a midweek sweep of in-state foe USF this past Wednesday. The Orange and Blue picked up a 9-1 (6 innings) win in the first game of the doubleheader and downed the Bulls 2-1 in the final game.

In the two victories, Florida picked up home runs from Charla Echols, Kendyl Lindaman and Emily Wilkie, which gives UF 13 homes runs over the last 10 games played. Echols paces the Gators over that stretch with four over the last four games and nine total on the season.

The Hilltoppers (15-5) enter the weekend after it suffered a 1-0 loss to in-state rival Eastern Kentucky. WKU pitcher Kelsey Aikey tied her career-high in strikeouts with 13 in the complete-game loss and the lone run relinquished was unearned due to an unfortunate throwing effort after a one-out double.

Florida will be Western Kentucky's fourth Top 25 opponent and second ranked inside the Top 10. The Hilltoppers upset then-ranked No. 7 Kentucky 2-1 (9 innings) in a midweek March 24.

Sandwiched in between the Gators pair of games with WKU is an exhibition against the World Baseball Softball Confederation's (WBSC) third-ranked team in Softball Canada. This will be the second national team exhibition of the season, fourth overall in program history, as the Gators already faced No. 1 USA earlier this season.

Like Team USA, Softball Canada is currently training for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games and features a roster made up of former collegiate superstars.

2021 Florida Softball COVID-19 Guidelines 

• In accordance with campus guidelines, face coverings (over the nose and mouth) will be required of all guests throughout the entire game, except during times of eating or drinking only.
• Public tailgating and gatherings will not be permitted on UF campus this spring.
• Inside the stadium fans will see new guidelines, signage, and enhanced cleaning procedures throughout.
• Physical distancing with limited seating and capacity will be in effect for all home contests.

 
2021 Florida Softball Ticket Information
Season tickets for the 2021 Florida softball season are sold out. However, single game tickets for the 2021 season may become available on a game-by-game basis. Fans that are looking to attend a Florida softball game at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium can check for single game ticket availability the day of the game by contacting the Gators Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683 or through resale ticket exchange on Ticketmaster.

Notable Notes:

• This will be the first time the Gators will take on Western Kentucky and Softball Canada in program history.
• The exhibition with Softball Canada will be the fourth national team that the Gators have faced in program history and the second this season.
  • Feb. 12, 2019 – vs. No. 2 Japan – L, 8-0
  • Feb. 11, 2020 – vs. No. 1 USA – L, 5-3
  • March 16, 2021 – vs. No. 1 USA – L, 4-0
• Florida pitching has held opponents to five hits or less in 28 games played this season, which helps translate into a .172 opposing batting average on the season. That mark currently ranks as the fifth lowest opposing batting average in program history.
  • Year – Opposing Batting Avg.
    • 2017 - .148
    • 2016 - .156
    • 2018 - .157
    • 2009 - .161
    • 2021 - .172
  • The Gators are also 27-1 when holding opponents to five hits or less this season.
• In 2021, Florida is 37-for-39 on stolen base attempts which is the most in a season since 20218 when the team was 38-for-48 on the year. The year before in 2017, the team was 97-for-111 in stolen bases.
• Over the last 10 games the Gators have drawn 63 walks. In comparison, the Gators only drew 73 walks in the first 23 games played of the season. Combined the team now has 136 walks on the year, which ranks 3^rd nationally and first in the SEC.
  • National Rank – Team – Total Walks
    • No. 1 – Southern Illinois – 167
    • No. 2 – A&M-Corpus Christi – 144
    • No. 3 – Florida – 136
    • No. 3 – Texas A&M – 136
    • No. 5 – Arkansas – 132
• Charla Echols is on a hot-streak at the plate over the last five games played. The Newnan, Ga. native is batting .455 with five hits, four home runs and double, seven walks, 12 RBI and five runs scored.
• Avery Goelz is settling in as well offensively as the freshman is 5-for-10 (.500) over the last five games with a double, four RBI, four runs scored and three walks.
• Entering this weekend, the Gators rank inside the Top 10 nationally and lead the SEC in ERA (1.40 – 6^th), fielding percentage (.983 – 5^th), shutouts (12 – 5^th) and walks (136 – 3^rd).

 
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