A look at some talking points as No. 1-ranked Gators softball team prepares for home opener
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 | Men's Golf, Softball, Scott Carter
A trip to Tampa last weekend for UF's softball team resulted in five wins and the title at the USF-Fairfield Inn Tournament.
Florida's fast start didn't go unrecognized by the pollsters.
The Gators moved to No. 1 in the latest USA Today/NFCA Top 25 on Tuesday.
Good timing, too. The Gators host Jacksonville on Wednesday in the 2012 home opener.
The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Here's a quick primer to get you ready for some softball:
--Freshman third baseman Sami Fagan will make her home debut. If it's anything like the way Fagan started her college career, Jacksonville's pitchers can expect a long day. Fagan was named SEC Freshman of the Week after going 10-for-15 (.667) in the tournament with a pair of stolen bases. Fagan was the 2011 Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida as a senior at Dunnellon High.
--Fagan wasn't the only Gator hitting well in Tampa, Kelsey Horton batted .538 (7-for-13) with two home runs and five RBI in the tournament.
--If you've followed Florida softball under head coach Tim Walton, you know the Gators usually hit a lot of home runs. That held true in the season-opening tournament as the Gators slammed five home runs in the five games. Meanwhile, their opponents hit none.
--Led by staff ace Hannah Rogers (4-0, 0.00 ERA), the Gators held their opponents to a paltry .144 batting average (15-for-104) and two runs in the five games. While it's uncertain who will start Wednesday's game, true freshman Lauren Haeger pitched well in the first two games of her college career. Haeger, expected to team with Rogers in the starting rotation, allowed just six hits and one run in 10.1 innings over two games. She struck out 14 and walked five. Haeger also had a team-high eight RBI in the tournament.
--The Gators usually take care of business at home. They finished 26-5 at Seashole Pressly Stadium in 2011 and over the past four seasons have a 133-10 record at home. Florida has also owned the Dolphins of late, winning nine in a row over Jacksonville.
--Finally, expect to see plenty of center fielder Michelle Moultrie on the bases as usual. Moultrie went 4-for-12 and scored a team-high eight runs in the five games in Tampa. She walked four times, was hit be three pitches and stole five of six bases.
