Four Florida softball players earn spots on national preseason top-100 list

The Florida Gators softball team had four players earn top-100 rankings on D1 Softball, Extra Inning Softball and Softball America. 

Redshirt junior Skylar Wallace, graduate student Charla Echols, sophomore Kendra Falby, and graduate transfer Pal Egan were ranked highly within the three sources ahead of the 2023 season. 

Wallace was ranked as the No. 4 shortstop by Extra Inning Softball. She had a historic 2022 season when she became the only known National Collegiate Athletic Association D1 player to post at least 70 hits, 70 runs, 50 RBIs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. 

Wallace earned a spot on the National Fastpitch Coach’s Association Second Team All-American. She was a key contributor in the Gators’ return to the Women’s College World Series for the 11th time in program history. 

Echols, ranked No. 3 among third baseman by Extra Inning Softball, enters her final season of college eligibility after setting a UF single-season record with an NCAA-leading 10 sacrifice flies. She also ranked 19th in the nation with 59 RBIs in 2022.  

Falby ranked third in the nation with 85 hits during her freshman year in 2022. This was the most hits by a Southeastern Conference freshman since 2013 when former Gator Kelsey Stewart produced 90 and Alabama’s Haylie McCleney hit 86. Extra Inning Softball also ranked her as the No. 7 overall outfielder in their position rankings.  

Egan was ranked No. 93 overall by D1 Softball and joined the Florida Gators as a graduate transfer during the offseason. She had a successful 2022 season at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where she was named the Southland Conference player and hitter of the year.

The Gators are set to open their season Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. They will take on Boston University at USF’s opening weekend tournament in Tampa, Florida. 

Contact Alyssa Britton-Harr abritton-harr@alligator.org. Follow her on twitter @abrittonharr.

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