The UF softball team heads down to Tampa this weekend to play its first five games while the finishing touches are put on the newly renovated Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators start their season tonight at 4:45 p.m. against Illinois State as part of the USF Opening Weekend Invitational. But they’ll engage with two top 25 opponents on Saturday, No. 19 Michigan and No. 7 Arizona, and finish with North Carolina State and South Florida on Sunday.
Yet, Florida has some questions it needs to answer this weekend. Here are a two crucial ones:
Who’s at first?
The Gators lost their mainstay at first base with the graduation of Kayli Kvistad.
Now, Kvistad must be replaced, and there doesn’t seem to be a clear option. Jordan Roberts was the second option at first last season, but the junior said on Tuesday that she’s committed to catching full time.
That pretty much gives UF coach Tim Walton two choices: start a freshman or start sophomore Jordan Matthews.
The latter seems like the better option both defensively and offensively.
Matthews played a little bit of first base last year, but she spent the majority of her time in right field or as the designated player (like a designated hitter in baseball but you can substitute for any position). However, that little bit of experience coupled with much more reps in the fall should give her plenty of chemistry with the rest of the UF infield.
The outfield is a crowded position group as well, so playing Matthews at first may be the best way to get her into the starting lineup.
Three-time All American Amanda Lorenz is a lock for left field. Senior Alex Voss and transfer Jade Caraway are the best options in center. And junior Jaimie Hoover and sophomore Danielle Romanello, a catcher in 2018, factor in as the right fielders.
Matthews knocked the third most hits last season of any returning UF players, so expect Walton to get her into the lineup any way possible.
Where does Caraway fit in?
The NC State transfer will have to play somewhere in the outfield.
Caraway, a junior, started at center field for two seasons for the Wolfpack, but Walton announced Tuesday that Voss, a team captain, is the first-choice at center field.
Caraway playing the backup role for Voss can be a very effective tactic.
Voss gets the start in center field because she’s valued for her defense. That’s where Caraway comes in.
The NC State transfer is an accomplished hitter -- she has hit .327 for her career -- so she can fill the role as designated player and hit. The flexibility of this lineup decision will manifest itself in tight games.
The Gators can take Voss out of center, put in Caraway, and designate a new player to hit in the designated player spot.
This will give Roberts, backup catcher to Minnesota transfer Kendyl Lindaman, a chance to hit in big spots. It could also give the bat to Hoover or Romanello depending on who’s starting in right field.
This flexibility may prove crucial this weekend against tough competition in Arizona and Michigan.
Follow Mark Stine on Twitter @mstinejr and contact him at mstine@alligator.org.
The graduation of Kayli Kvistad left an open spot at first base for the Florida softball team. Coach Tim Walton will likely either start one of his freshmen or sophomore Jordan Matthews there this season.
