Working an extra day of the week might not seem like an appealing prospect to most people, but for coach Tim Walton and the UF softball team, it's something to be excited about.
"I love playing midweek games," Walton said. "I think we play our best weekend series when we play midweek games."
No. 1 UF will use the doubleheader against Florida International (15-15) at 4 p.m. today to help prepare for this weekend's three-game series against No. 6 Tennessee, one of several dominant Southeastern Conference teams - including No. 2 Alabama - UF will face in the next few weeks.
It's hard to argue with the results the Gators (27-2, 8-0 SEC) have had this season during weeks with a midweek matchup and a weekend series. UF has won 16 of its 17 weekend games following a midweek game.
Walton said the midweek games are beneficial to his team because they provide a change of pace from the usual practice schedule and allow his team to make adjustments based on in-game situations rather than simply match up against each other in practice all week.
"When you face somebody on a Wednesday, it's a different kind of competition," Walton said. "I think it keeps us a lot fresher and keeps us in a good position."
While the Gators seem to be in midseason form after winning their last 16 games, their midweek play has been impressive all year.
In their six midweek wins - five of which came against top-15 teams - the Gators have put a combined 50 runs on the board while holding opponents to just 2, both of which were scored by then-No. 3 Arizona State.
UF exemplified its midweek-to-weekend improvement over spring break, taking down No. 8 Georgia at home 15-0 and 4-0 before getting three more shutout wins at Mississippi.
Pitchers Stacey Nelson and Stephanie Brombacher only allowed 3 runs in the first eight SEC games and are riding a streak of six straight shutouts. Nelson, the SEC Pitcher of the Week, ended the weekend with her first career no-hitter.
Walton cited consistency as a key factor in his pitchers' success lately. Nelson has started Games 1 and 3 of weekend series with Brombacher starting the second game, and the two have split starts in doubleheaders.
"With the amount of games we're playing and the number of games (per week) decreasing a little bit, I think they're fresh, I think they're healthy," he said.
While both pitchers are healthy, UF's outfield has been hampered by injuries. Left fielder Francesca Enea tore her left ACL before the season, and Walton said there may be times she needs a day off. Center fielder Kim Waleszonia will likely be out until the postseason with a tibial plateau fracture in her left leg.
With that in mind, Walton has tried different players in different positions in recent games. Sunday, Kelsey Bruder moved from right field to start at first base, and freshman Alicia Sisco took Bruder's spot in the field.
"The thing that crosses my mind more than anything … is we've been going through some injuries," Walton said. "With Kim being out, I need to do a good job of making sure I have a fourth and maybe even a fifth outfielder."
