Softball Takes Aim at Baylor in 2009 Season Opener
Friday, February 6, 2009 | Softball
The University of Florid softball team opens the season at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium tonight against Baylor. The No. 1/1 Gators are opening at home for the first time in five years. The game is slated to begin at 6 p.m. with the following two games on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
Florida is 2-1 on opening day and a perfect 7-0 when opening the season at home. The Gators are 3-1 overall under head coach Tim Walton.
Walton returns eight starters from the 2008 team that set an NCAA record with 70 wins. UF made the program's first-ever Women's College World Series appearance in 2008, going 3-2 and finishing tied for third. The Gators ended the season ranked third, the highest final ranking of all-time.
Five All-Americans return for the Orange and Blue, as junior Francesca Enea (Woodland Hills, Calif.), senior Ali Gardiner (Waccabuc, N.Y.), senior Stacey Nelson (Los Alamitos, Calif.), sophomore Aja Paculba (Wildomar, Calif.) and senior Kim Waleszonia (Fontana, Calif.) take the field on opening day. Four All-SEC Freshmen team selections return as well, including sophomore Megan Bush (Anaheim Hills, Calif.), who will play shortstop and sophomore Stephanie Brombacher (Pembroke Pines, Fla.), the Gators' No. 2 pitcher.
Florida has yet to win a game against Baylor, which went 23-22 last season. The two teams last faced off in the 2007 NFCA Leadoff Classic and the Bear took the contest, 7-6. They hold a 5-0 all-time series advantage over the Gators.
