After a 4-1 start, Florida will be facing a new set of challenges this weekend as they host the Lipton Invitational.
It will be the Gators’ second-straight season hosting the tournament. Last year Florida came into the Lipton invitational at 3-1 and came out 8-1.
If they are to match that feat this year, they’ll need senior Francesca Enea to continue her torrid start.
Through five games the left fielder is hitting .438 with three home runs and 11 RBI.
If she kept up this blistering pace for the duration of the season, which is likely an impossible task, she would hit 33 home runs and drive in 121 runs while shattering almost every Florida hitting record.
“She’s obviously seeing it very well right now,” coach Tim Walton said. “Typically she’s a slow starter, but I attribute it to her great work ethic. She came out really hot right from beginning, had good at bats, and hit it a lot of different ways. She’s swung well and really picked us up.”
Enea is proving that her Collegiate Player of the Year Preseason Watch List appearance, her Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award candidacy, her standing as an All-SEC first team and All-America second team member, and her number nine overall selection in the National Pro Fast Pitch League Senior Draft were all well deserved.
In spite of all these honors, Enea has always been a leader and a teammate first.
“It’s definitely a great honor and it means a lot that they thought of me, but I wouldn't be able to get it without the support of the team and the coaches who give me confidence to be a great player,” Enea said of her Player of the Year Watch List appearance.
The Gators will be facing Campbell (1-2-1) and Kansas (2-3) on Friday before what will likely be their toughest test of the weekend against Marshall (4-0) on Saturday.
The Thundering Herd are led by pitcher Katie Murphree, who has allowed only six runs in 20 innings of work. Marshall should also present a challenge for whoever is behind the plate for UF, as they are among the best in the NCAA with 17 stolen bases through four games.
The Gators will then close out the weekend with a pair of games against East Carolina, who they beat 4-3 in the season opener.
