The numbers were spaced across the field at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, only a few feet from where the infield clay meets the outfield grass: 4, 15, 5, 42, 31, 24, 20.
The players who wear those numbers - Danyell Hines, Brooke Johnson, Kim Waleszonia, Stacey Nelson, Kristina Hilberth, Ali Gardiner and Le-Net Franklin - were honored during UF's Senior Weekend for their contributions to the program.
This class was special to coach Tim Walton, as four of the seniors - Nelson, Waleszonia, Hilberth and Johnson - began their college careers during his first season at UF.
"It's tough to even fathom that you're going to lose those kinds of kids, but it's part of the game," Walton said. "We're going to cherish the moments we had with these kids. They've done a great job."
Gardiner, Hilberth, Waleszonia and Nelson were honored before UF's 3-1 victory Sunday, the final regular-season game of the seven seniors' college careers.
Franklin, Hines and Johnson were recognized before Saturday's doubleheader sweep of Longwood (23-23), which No. 1 UF (52-3) won by scores of 11-0 and 6-0.
The players' families joined them as they received flowers and tearful hugs from teammates - some more emotional than others.
"I'm a crier. I am. I can't help it," said sophomore Kelsey Bruder, who added that she owned the title of biggest emotional trainwreck before the game. "I told them I'd try to keep it together, but I feel like I'm one of them. They're some of my best friends, so it was really tough on me."
Two of the numbers on the field this weekend - Waleszonia's No. 5 and Nelson's No. 42 - won't be seen again for quite some time at UF after this season out of respect for what the two have accomplished.
"As long as I coach here, you won't ever see a No. 5, you won't ever see a No. 42 on anybody else's back," Walton said. "We don't really retire numbers, but they won't be worn as long as I'm the coach here at the University of Florida."
With two outs in the final inning of Game 3, Walton substituted Nelson, Gardiner and Hilberth out of the game, and while the crowd stood to cheer and the seniors made their way to the dugout, Nelson put the final out in the hands of sophomore Stephanie Brombacher.
"It's just so symbolic, me handing Steph the ball," Nelson said. "She's going to be our pitcher next year, and it's just so great because I know she's going to do good. It's my time to move on, and it's her time to come in and be the leader."
Walton said he brought the three seniors off the field hoping that, no matter how the team fares in the postseason, they will remember that moment forever. It proved to be everything he hoped it would be for his players, one final memory to cap off careers already full of memorable accomplishments.
"It was awesome," Hilberth said. "I'm not ever going to forget it."
