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<p>UF's Lauren Haeger bats during Florida's 2-1 win against UNF on April 1, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.</p>

UF's Lauren Haeger bats during Florida's 2-1 win against UNF on April 1, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Two emotions come to Kelsey Stewart’s mind when Florida and Florida State clash in Gainesville – love and hate.

"I love when FSU comes to Gainesville," Stewart said. "There’s people sitting on the hills. Everyone’s loud. Everyone hates FSU, you know?"

Stewart, who’s currently riding a 14-game hitting streak, will look to continue the rivalry tonight as the No. 1 Gators (43-4) take on the No. 10 Seminoles (37-11) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium at 7.

Florida has won 12 of the last 13 matchups against Florida State and leads the all-time series 20-14.

But while the rivalry is more significant for players who grew up in Florida, some out-of-state players aren’t as passionately inclined.

"I know it’s a big rivalry, but I feel like since I didn’t grow up knowing this rivalry it’s not that huge of a deal to me," said California native freshman Nicole DeWitt.

Twelve of UF’s players come from states outside of Florida, including California, Kansas, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Delaware and Virginia. Just eight Gators hail from the Sunshine State.

While a majority of the team isn’t from Florida, that doesn’t mean the rivalry game is unimportant.

"I still wanna go out there and beat this team because I know how big of a deal it is to all the other Florida players on this team," DeWitt said.

Peoria, Arizona, native Lauren Haeger said it takes time to realize how big of a deal the rivalry is. The senior has played six career games against the Seminoles.

"When I first got to this school I didn’t really understand it," Haeger said. "Being so far away, I was like, ‘Oh, it’s the in-state rivalry, whatever,’ but it’s kind of intense here."

Haeger’s first hit against Florida State came just this year on a single in the 7th inning of UF’s 5-1 win on April 8 in Tallahassee. She’s now 1-for-19 against the ‘Noles in her career.

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One reason Haeger’s bat had been silent throughout the years was because of FSU pitcher Lacey Waldrop. Haeger said she’s ready to face Waldrop, who was the 2014 USA Softball National Player of the Year.

"I’ve never gotten a hit off Lacey Waldrop, so that’s my kind of goal for tomorrow if they do pitch her," she said. "Everyone has those pitchers that they just can’t get, and I haven’t gotten her yet but hopefully I’ll get a hit tomorrow."

This season, Waldrop is 24-5 with a 1.25 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 167.1 innings. Her 24 wins are tied for sixth most in the country and her ERA is the 11th lowest in the nation.

Meanwhile, Haeger’s 1.20 ERA this season is 10th lowest in the country.

Florida didn’t see Waldrop on April 8, but if the Gators do see her, Haeger and the rest of the team are prepared.

"Luckily we’ve all seen Waldrop a few times," Haeger said, "so we kind of know what to expect."

Follow Patrick Pinak on Twitter @Pinakk12

UF's Lauren Haeger bats during Florida's 2-1 win against UNF on April 1, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

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