After dropping two games against Georgia over the weekend, Florida’s softball team (23-3) will take the field at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium tonight at 6 p.m. against South Florida (22-12).
Coming off its lowest point so far this season — losing to Georgia by 10 runs on Saturday for the program’s worst defeat since 2011 — UF is hoping to find some resilience against the Bulls.
Florida previously beat USF 11-1 earlier this season at the USF-Wilson DeMarini Tournament in Tampa, but after a tough weekend against Georgia in Athens, the Gators will need to focus on these three things if they want to beat the Bulls again tonight:
Improved defensive play
A lack of communication in the outfield against Georgia displayed Florida’s defensive efforts at their worst. Plays were miscued and moments of chaos ensued on the diamond as Florida recorded its most errors over a three-game span since mid-February.
The team’s downfalls showed as their national ranking dropped from No. 2 to No. 6 going into tonight’s matchup against South Florida. While the ugly performances against Georgia this weekend don’t define their season thus far, the Gators will need to be better defensively against the Bulls.
More opportunities for Chronister
Few teams in the country have as talented a pitching rotation as Florida.
Its top three pitchers — junior Kelly Barnhill, senior Aleshia Ocasio and sophomore Katie Chronister — have all proven to be an asset to the team so far this season.
However, Barnhill and Ocasio have carried most of the workload, totaling a combined 21-3 record over the course of 26 games. They’ve also tossed 137 of the Gators’ 160.2 innings pitched this season.
While Barnhill and Ocasio have two of the best ERAs in the country at 0.56 and 1.01, respectively, they struggled in this weekend’s losses against Georgia, allowing six earned runs in 8.1 innings pitched.
Chronister has been solid this season, notching a 1.47 ERA, but has only been in the circle for 14.1 total innings.
Success at the plate during at bats
Despite an unusually quiet weekend in Athens, Florida’s at bats have been one of the most successful aspects of their offense.
Junior Amanda Lorenz tops the roster with a batting average of .438 followed by senior Nicole DeWitt who carries an average of .343. The California natives are tied at five home runs a piece so far this season, the highest on the roster.
Lorenz and DeWitt are also ranked as the top-2 on the roster in slugging percentages, hits, second base hits, third base hits, at bats and runs.
Follow Mari Faiello on Twitter @faiello_mari and contact him at mfaiello@alligator.org.
Freshman pitcher Katie Chronister has a 1.47 ERA through 14.1 innings pitched this season.
