After a 3-1 start at the USF Wilson DeMarini Invitational, No. 3 Florida will be playing its home opener tonight at 5 against Jacksonville.
It will be the first game in Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium for the team’s freshmen, some of whom have already made an impact.
Catcher, right fielder and designated hitter Brittany Schutte has been a force at the plate up to this point in the young season, hitting a pair of home runs and tying for the team lead with a .533 on-base percentage.
“It felt really good to start off like that, and I still have a lot of work to do, but its good to start the collegiate season off that way,” Schutte said.
The utility player’s efforts clearly impressed coach Tim Walton, as he moved Schutte from sixth in the lineup in the Gators’ first game up to fifth against Georgia Tech, and then to second in Florida’s two Sunday games.
Schutte’s ability to hit for power while still drawing walks gives Walton the flexibility to use her as a table-setter or a run-producer.
“She’s just really looked good,” Walton said. “It’s something I anticipated, but until you play for real, you don’t know, but she was there and ready to play.”
The other freshman who has worked her way into the starting lineup is Brittany Walker.
Walker has yet to start producing at the plate but has been error-free in her first four games at shortstop.
The team also has a pair of freshman pitchers who saw action in the opening tournament.
It was an up-and-down weekend for Ensley Gammel, who overcame control issues to get the win in the season opener.
But she couldn’t over come her control inconsistencies against Long Island, as she walked three and gave up a hit while recording just two outs.
“She had way too many walks and didn’t give her team a chance to play defense behind her,” Walton said. “Hitters are going to start hitting on her when you can’t get ahead in counts.”
Fellow freshman Erin Schuppert seemed to be a steadier option in relief, throwing 6.1 scoreless innings and tallying a save in the tournament.
Schuppert also excelled in the area where Gammel struggled most, walking only a pair in her two appearances.
Despite the disparity in quality of UF’s early season performances, Walton is still uncertain how he will handle the role of number two pitcher as the season continues.
“I really don’t have a set plan,” Walton said.
“Erin and Ensley are going to spend a lot of time splitting games, I might start one and pull her and then bring her back. They’re totally, completely different pitchers, so I might move them around and shake it up a bit to make it difficult for hitters.”
At this point, it is unclear whether one of the freshman pitchers or junior ace Stephanie Brombacher will start tonight’s game.
