After shutting out No. 6 Michigan on Wednesday, UF pitcher Stacey Nelson said she felt like she could have pitched four more games. She might have the opportunity to do that this weekend.
The No. 2 Gators (13-2) will host the Cox Communication Invitational at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium this weekend when they take on four different teams - Pacific, South Florida, Illinois and Texas Tech - in a six-game span.
Nelson, who said she was unusually energetic for Wednesday's game, had a plan for how she'll deal with the back-to-back-to-back doubleheaders.
"I guess I should save my abnormal amounts of energy," she joked. "We've been playing five, six games a weekend up until now, so it's tiring, but it's just another weekend."
UF coach Tim Walton echoed his pitcher's thoughts, adding that he does not plan to make many adjustments to the way his team usually prepares. The only thing Walton will do to the lineup this weekend is reduce the amount of time left fielder Francesca Enea will play.
Enea, who suffered her second torn ACL in her right knee in September, is batting .450 with 18 hits and 25 RBIs in her 40 at-bats this season. The junior should still see time at the plate, and the Gators have plenty of talent to put in left field.
Speedy freshman Michelle Moultrie has primarily played as a pinch runner this year, but she displayed her potential as a hitter in the Cathedral City Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., last weekend. In UF's game against UNLV on Saturday, Moultrie scored on an inside-the-park home run - the first hit of her college career.
Moultrie also played left field against the Rebels, allowing Enea to act as the designated hitter, and Enea took advantage of the opportunity by going 2 for 3 at the plate and driving in 2 runs.
Despite the number of innings the Gators will play this weekend, center fielder Kim Waleszonia said the tournament has its benefits - especially after having spent last weekend over 2,000 miles away from Gainesville.
"I'm glad were at home. I can sleep in my own bed," Waleszonia said. "It's tough to play that many games in one weekend, but we worked all fall for it and conditioned for it. It's always tough on our bodies by the end of the weekend, but we've trained for it, so we'll be all right."
UF will start the Invitational today at 4 p.m. against Pacific (5-4) before taking on South Florida (10-5) immediately afterward. The Gators will play their second doubleheader of the weekend Saturday afternoon at 4 against Illinois (10-4) and Texas Tech (3-10).
The Gators have already beaten Texas Tech this season, as they beat the Red Raiders 11-0 on Feb. 13 in Gainesville.
UF will wrap up the tournament Sunday with its third doubleheader - rematches with Illinois and South Florida.
