Tim Walton likes where his team is at with the regular season drawing to a close.
With a nine-game win streak and his team making strides at the right time, the ninth-year coach wants to see UF keep its pace.
“I always feel like this week and next week are two of the most important weeks of the season,” Walton said. “We’re definitely playing some of our best ball right now. It makes it a lot easier to go back to a good place if we do struggle the next couple weeks.”
In Florida’s road sweep against Texas A&M last weekend — its first Southeastern Conference road sweep in its last five series — the Gators held the Aggies to just five runs while scoring 30 of their own.
“When we’re all on and hitting, it’s great,” senior Stephanie Tofft said. “We go through the lineup, and everyone’s up in the dugout, and it’s just exciting when everyone’s hitting. Especially at this point in the season since we’re getting closer to postseason, it’s great to have people coming up to bat and coming up big.”
No. 3 Florida (40-8, 11-7 SEC) is now tasked with finishing its final four home games with a midweek matchup against South Florida (33-13, 7-5 American Athletic Conference) tonight at 6 and a three-game series against Missouri (35-12, 12-6 SEC) starting Friday.
UF faced USF to open the season, winning the contest 10-3 in Tampa.
“In the first game, we had the benefit of some walks and some hit by pitches and a couple timely hits, but I definitely feel like (USF’s) offense was really good,” Walton said. “They showed some nice signs of being able to run a little bit, hit with some power up and down the lineup.”
Added Tofft: “It’s always a great series between us and them. They’re a great team. They’ve got some good players, some good pitching, so we’ll see how it goes.”
Tofft looks to continue her success from Florida’s last series against Texas A&M.
In the Gators’ three wins against the Aggies, she hit .700 with three home runs, notching 10 RBIs and six runs. Her performance not only made her the SEC Player of the Week, but also the NFCA National Player of the Week on Tuesday.
“It was really exciting to hit well all weekend. I was seeing the ball well, and it was really great to just get some hits,” Tofft said. “I was really relaxed. Having our pitchers do a good job on the mound helps you swing a little more comfortably when you know they’re doing their best.”
Added Walton: “It’s all about timing, I thought she really worked through all of her stuff and overcome maybe some preseason expectations that she might have had of herself.”
Since transferring from Northern Illinois prior to her junior year, Tofft has been an active contributor for Florida.
The Lincoln, Calif., native started all 67 games in 2013 at third base — a position that she only had eight collegiate appearances at prior to earning the starting role at third for UF.
In her first year, she posted a .332 batting average, 53 RBIs and 18 doubles.
With seven regular season games left, Tofft has a .326 clip at the plate, a team-leading 51 RBIs and nine home runs.
“Even though we’ve only had [Tofft] for two years, she’s as big of a part of our success as anybody,” Walton said.
“She’s going to give you her all or nothing at all.”
Follow Jordan McPherson on Twitter @J_McPherson1126
Junior third baseman Stephanie Tofft swings during Florida’s 4-2 win against Mississippi State on April 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
