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The Gators softball team, the No. 4 national seed in the NCAA Tournament, seeks to defend their home field in the Gainesville Super Regional starting at noon today against the unseeded Baylor Bears.
Gators coach Tim Walton joined Steve Russell on Sports Scene to preview the double-elimination Super Regional with Baylor (35-21) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium that will be aired on ESPN2, ESPN 98.1-FM/850-AM WRUF.
Gainesville Super Regional
(4) @GatorsSB 🆚 @BaylorSoftball #RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/Zm3a81IAv4— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 20, 2024
The Gators (49-12) are coming in confident, with Walton saying they’re playing their best softball of the season after winning their 11th consecutive game by taking the Gainesville Regional last week.
Gators’ Road
Gainesville Super Regional 🔜
🏟️ KSP Stadium
🗓️ May 24-26
🎟️ https://t.co/ZZvsqyvopa#GoGators pic.twitter.com/y6czZxWn5e— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) May 20, 2024
Florida has been nothing short of dominant in the postseason. After defeating Georgia 9-4 and Texas A&M 7-3 in the first two rounds of the SEC Tournament in Auburn, the Gators were crowned SEC champions for the sixth time in commanding fashion, a 6-1 takedown of Missouri.
Coming home to the Gainesville Regional, the Gators continued dismantling opponents. Florida shut out FGCU in the first game, and went on to beat South Alabama 9-1 in each of the next two games to win the final.
Florida is after a return to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City for the 12th time in program history.
Next Up: Super Regionals at KSP🐊 pic.twitter.com/HzjGjccfNj
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) May 19, 2024
Baylor Battle
Wheels up for Gainesville 🛫#SicEm | #CultureofJOY pic.twitter.com/LNL4aveI7P
— Baylor Softball (@BaylorSoftball) May 22, 2024
Coming into the Super Regional, the unranked Bears sit at 35-21, but, in the Lafayette (La.) Regional, they came away with a surprising result. Going 3-1 overall, the Bears defeated 13th national seed Louisiana in the rubber match of a three game series to advance to the Super Regional.
Walton says Baylor is a formidable opponent.
Moving Forward
Game 2 of the Super is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, with the If Necessary game Sunday.
The winner of this series will become one of the eight teams advancing to the Women’s College World Series. The tournament, deciding the national champion, takes place May 30-June 7 in Oklahoma City.
Who's ready for a SUPER weekend? 🙋♀️#RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/sGH2ISG1iQ
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 23, 2024
The Gators are going to give it their all this weekend, Walton said, but no matter what, he’s proud of what this team has accomplished.
