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Friday, March 29, 2024

UF brings five-game errorless streak into series against Longwood

Base stealing, home-run hitting and power pitching are all marks of an exciting softball team.

The goal for the No. 3 Gators (32-2, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) this season isn't to be exciting, however, and while they have displayed all those things on the diamond, it's another dimension of the game that has made them more complete lately - fielding.

Before the Iowa game, UF coach Tim Walton pointed to mistake-free defense as a big reason for the Gators' success in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Fayetteville, Ark., last week.

"We didn't make an error in five games," he said. "To do that on the road is huge."

The team will try to run its streak of consecutive games without an error to eight when it takes on Longwood this Saturday for the first two games of a three-game series.

The Gators, who haven't made an error since the second game in the Mississippi series, will rely on their much-improved infield play to take some pressure off of their stellar pitching staff.

Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Aja Paculba has consistently produced on offense but only recently has come into her own in the field.

Paculba, who has committed four errors this season, hasn't logged an "E" in the box score since a bad throw pulled first baseman Ali Gardiner off the bag, allowing the winning run to score in a loss to Long Beach State on Feb. 27.

While the outfield clearly has the least defensive responsibility on a softball field, it is equally apparent which position is most challenged when the other team is at the plate.

Sophomore Corrie Brooks plays third base for the Gators, and her improvement at the hot corner has led the way for UF's improvement with the leather.

"It's pretty nerve-racking. It's pretty intense over there," said Brooks when asked about the difficulty of being mere yards away from the batter when the ball is hit. "When you get a hot shot at you, you're on instincts."

Brooks leads the team in errors made (six) but has looked sharp lately playing close to hitters in order to field bunts and cut down the throw to first on the short 60-foot bases.

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For safety reasons - not to mention piece of mind - she will be wearing a mouth guard every time she takes the field this weekend, as she has all season.

"I really don't want to lose my teeth," Brooks said.

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