OGT-Florida vs Stetson 3/22/2023 6:00 pm ESPN+

Mar 22 (Wed) 6 PM
Florida vs Stetson
DeLand, FL

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No. 8 Florida Travels for Midweek Showdown with Stetson
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The eighth-ranked Florida softball team hits the road for a solo midweek contest against Stetson at Patricia Wilson Field this Wednesday, March 22, at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.

The Gators (22-5) and the Hatters (17-12) share a rich history between the two programs as Stetson was the first ever competitive collegiate game for the Orange & Blue. UF took both games of a doubleheader, 8-0 & 3-2, February 8, 1997 and since then holds an all-time record of 16-2 against the Hatters.

Last season the two programs met in home and away midweek affairs with Florida defeating Stetson, 7-0, in DeLand, Fla. and, 5-0, in Gainesville.

This year Florida enters the matchup looking to build off a successful start to Southeastern Conference play. UF took the series, 2-1, over Missouri for its first SEC series victory of the season, which also landed redshirt-junior infielder Skylar Wallace her second SEC Player of the Week award of the season.

Wallace batted .545 (6-for-11) with six runs scored, six RBI, a double, a triple, a pair of home runs and four stolen bases between a midweek game against Bucknell and the series with the Tigers.

Overall, the Gators rank nationally in batting average (.358 – 5th), on base percentage (.467 – 2nd), scoring (8.04 runs per game – 4th), slugging percentage (.598 – 5th) and walks (122 – 3rd).

Along with Wallace, Charla Echols & Kendra Falby continue to be the main catalysts to the Florida offense as the trio all rank nationally in batting average. Wallace (.455 – 25th), Echols (.429 – 50th) and Falby (.425 – 54th) are each batting over .400 at the top of the lineup and not to mention Avery Goelz (.380), Reagan Walsh (.343), Kaila Pollard (.341), Katie Kistler (.333) and Sam Roe (.327) all batting over .300 in the lineup.

The Hatters have produced a successful season so far themselves as they have racked up wins over then ranked No. 23 UCF, 4-3, No. 16 Georgia, 2-1, and South Carolina, 4-3, behind the arm of Lauren Hobbs (7-3, 1.81 ERA). In addition to Hobbs, Stetson has relied on Hannah Marien (7-4, 0.88 ERA) as the duo has over 70 innings of work each this season.

Following tomorrow's midweek is a three-game series at No. 12/17 Arkansas this upcoming Friday, March 24, through Saturday, March 26, at Bogle Park in Fayetteville, Ark.​