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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Mercer presents opportunity for struggling Florida offense

<p>Jaimie Hoover had four runs in four at-bats in the Gators' Saturday doubleheader. Florida topped Illinois State 10-2 and defeated Syracuse 8-0.</p>

Jaimie Hoover had four runs in four at-bats in the Gators' Saturday doubleheader. Florida topped Illinois State 10-2 and defeated Syracuse 8-0.

The UF softball team carried its offensive struggles from SEC play into its midweek game against No. 20 Minnesota on Wednesday.

Catcher Kendyl Lindaman batted in all eight of Florida’s runs in its past four games: two against the Golden Gophers and six over the weekend at LSU. The rest of the team has a combined batting average of .099 over that stretch.

But the Gators will have a chance to string some hits together in a weekend homestand against Mercer.

No. 6 Florida will host the Bears (13-18) on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Coach Tim Walton said he’s looking to put a more offensive lineup on the field to face a Mercer pitching staff with a 5.28 earned-run average.

“Having the struggles in the middle of the lineup, you can’t have five defensive players,” he said. “You’ve got to have some offense. That’s all we’re trying to do, trying to squeeze as much offense out as we can.”

Walton said outfielder Jaimie Hoover has been taking repetitions at third base for a little over a week, and she will make her season debut in the infield this weekend.

Freshman Hannah Sipos started 26 games at third base. However, the Gators (25-6) already have second baseman Hannah Adams, shortstop Sophia Reynoso and center fielder Alex Voss in the starting lineup for primarily defensive purposes. They need somewhere to plug in a power hitter, and third base is their best option.

Hoover, along with the rest of the middle of UF’s lineup, has struggled since the start of SEC play. She’s 1 for 8 at the plate in six conference appearances. The rest of the mid-lineup mainstays — catcher Jordan Roberts, utility player Jordan Matthews and right fielder Danielle Romanello — went a combined 4 for 38 against SEC opponents. The four together also lead the team in strikeouts.

“We’ve hit some balls firm, but just nothing to really show for it,” Walton said. “Practice-wise, just trying to get it to carry over. I think that’s the goal. Figuring out how to get it going from pregame to in-game.”

An emerging fixture for Florida’s offense is outfielder Jade Caraway at the bottom of the lineup. The transfer from North Carolina State has five hits — all singles — in her last five games and came around to score two times.

However, her most critical function is her ability to turn over the lineup and pass the bat to Amanda Lorenz at the top of the order, who’s hitting .420 on the year.

Caraway’s speed makes her a tough out if she makes contact. She beat out a ground ball for an infield hit against Minnesota and had two infield hits against LSU on Monday.

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“She’s just kind of taking what they’re giving her,” Walton said. “I’m not going to ask her to do anything more.”

Follow Mark Stine on Twitter @mstinejr and contact him at mstine@alligator.org.

Outfielder Jaimie Hoover is 1 for 8 at the plate in six conference appearances.

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