Ongoing UF Softball Commentary

Gator softball finished their regular season 41-15 with a 2-0 win over Mercer (16-38). Elizabeth Hightower (14-7) threw her second straight complete game shutout, allowing only 1 hit (a bunt single) and a walk with 3 K's. Offensively, the Gators continued to struggle against mediocre pitching, as Mercer's pitcher today had only throw 23.1 innings with a 10.03 ERA, yet held Florida to 7 hits and 2 1st inning runs, walking 2 with no strikeouts. Florida's runs came on a leadoff single by Kendra Falby, a stolen base, an RBI single from Skylar Wallace, a stolen base in which Wallace scored when the throw to 2nd went into the outfield. Sam Roe went 2-3, with the other Gator singles coming from Katie Kistler, Cheyenne Lindsey and Reagan Walsh, as UF stranded 7 base runners. Florida's seeding for the SEC tournament in Gainesville won't be decided until tomorrow when all the other games are completed, but they could finish anywhere from 4th to 10th, probably somewhere in the middle. But it won't matter if they don't figure out how to get more production out of their offense. Gator pitching is very good, #2 in the SEC. And we have the best fielding percentage in the conference. But we are dead last in home runs and 12th in slugging percentage. The post season wipes the slate clean and it's an opportunity for all the ladies to get a fresh start, but unless the return of Hannah Adams provides a spark and they start figuring out a way to drive in runs in order to put up crooked numbers every once in a while, the season could end very abruptly. We will host a Regional tournament, no doubt, but the hope of getting a Top 8 seed for Super Regional hosting is almost gone. Still, Gooooo Gators!!!

Seeding and matchup will be known after Sunday conference games are finished. But here's the schedule:
Here's the 2022 SEC Softball Tournament schedule.

DATE TIME (ET) MATCHUP NETWORK
Tuesday, May 10 7 p.m. Game 1: No. 12 vs. No. 13 SEC Network
Wednesday, May 11 12 p.m. Game 2: No. 6 vs. No. 11 SEC Network
2:30 p.m. Game 3: No. 7 vs. No. 10 SEC Network
5 p.m. Game 4: No. 5 vs. Game 1 winner SEC Network
7:30 p.m. Game 5: No. 8 vs. No. 9 SEC Network
Thursday, May 12 12 p.m. Game 6: No. 3 vs. Game 2 winner SEC Network
2:30 p.m. Game 7: No. 2 vs. Game 3 winner SEC Network
5 p.m. Game 8: No. 4 vs. Game 4 winner SEC Network
7:30 p.m. Game 9: No. 1 vs. Game 5 winner SEC Network
Friday, May 13 3 p.m. Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner ESPN2
5:30 p.m. Game 11: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner ESPN2
Saturday, May 14 5 p.m. Championship Game ESPN2

 

If all of our players worked as hard as EH to get the most out of their ability, we would be a much better team. I don't know any of our players or coaches personally, but as a long time fan of Gator softball who loves to read about anything Gator, the student athletes I admire the most are those who aren't blessed with some of the God-given natural ability as others and yet achieve at the highest level.

 

Here's how ties in regular-season conference winning percentage will be decided for seeding the SEC tournament.

1. Two-Team Tie. The following procedure will be used in the following order until the tie is broken:

A. Won-lost record of head-to-head competition between the tied teams.

B. Won-lost record of the two teams versus the highest seeded common opponent.

C. Fewest runs allowed in head to head competition. If head to head competition between two tied teams did not occur, then fewest runs allowed against all common opponents.

D. Fewest runs allowed versus all opponents.

E. Coin flip by the Commissioner.

2. Three-Team Tie (or more). If three or more tied teams have three different records against each other, they shall be seeded in best percentage order. Otherwise, once the tie has been reduced to two teams, the two-team tie breaker procedure shall be utilized. The following procedure will be used in the following order until the tie is broken:

A. Total won-loss percentage of games played among the tied teams.

B. Won-loss percentage of the tied teams versus the highest seed common opponent.

C. Fewest runs allowed in head to head competition. If head to head competition between the tied teams did not occur, then fewest runs allowed against all common opponents.

D. Fewest runs allowed versus all opponents.

E. If three or more teams are still tied, the Commissioner will conduct a draw.