During the Gators' game against the Stetson Hatters on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium in Gainesville, FL / UAA Communications photo by Ashley Ray

Florida Softball Set to Host Auburn

No. 15 Florida softball (26-9) is at home Thursday night hosting No. 19 Auburn (28-10) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. This will be the fourth SEC series of the season for the Gators. In the conference, the Gators hold a 4-5 record, and the Tigers are 6-3.

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Matchup History

Last season, the Gators hosted the Tigers, winning the series 2-1. Prior to that, the teams met in the 2020 season, ending in a Gator victory in all three games of the series. Overall, the Gators are 49-22 against the Tigers (8-2 in the last 10 matchups), averaging 4.85 runs per game.

Gator Strengths

As a team, the Gators have a .339 batting average, with Skylar Wallace (.432 batting avg), Kendra Falby (.407 batting avg) and Charla Echols (.396) leading the scoring. Florida averages 7.36 runs per game, the most in program history. On the season, Falby has tallied up 40 runs, followed closely by Wallace (39) and Echols (30).  The trio, plus Pal Egan and Avery Goelz all bat over .400 on their home field. The Gators have been 15-2 at home, with a collective batting average of .373.

Florida softball has also dropped their last two SEC matchups against Arkansas and South Carolina. The Gators need this SEC win to improve their conference record.

Auburn head coach Mickey Dean spoke about the Gators’ strengths that the Tigers will need to prepare for.

Tiger Strengths

The Auburn Tigers have a team batting average of .299. Leaders for Auburn include Makayla Packer (.364 batting avg.), Nelia Peralta (.358 batting avg) and Carlee McCondichie (.350 batting avg). Maddie Penta, pitcher for the Tigers, is currently ranked third in the nation in strikeouts. Penta totals 183 strikeouts, with an earned run average of .89. 

Dean discussed Penta’s progress this season.

Auburn enters the series after winning their last two SEC matchups. The defeated Missouri (3-0) last weekend and Ole Miss (2-1) the prior weekend.

Dean discussed his attitude for his team on the road.

 

The series kicks off Thursday at 6 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

About Ainsley Davis

Ainsley Davis is a second-year sports journalism student at the University of Florida.

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