GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The third-ranked Florida softball team returns to Southeastern Conference action this Friday through Sunday with a three-game series against South Carolina at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Saturday is Senior Day where the program will recognize
Katie Chronister,
Jaimie Hoover,
Kendyl Lindaman and
Jordan Matthews on the field, along with special acknowledgements for
Jordan Roberts,
Sophia Reynoso and
Jade Caraway.
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The Gators (33-6, 12-3 SEC) enter the weekend ranked second in the current SEC standings behind league-leader Arkansas (37-5, 16-2 SEC). The Gamecocks (23-18, 2-13 SEC) come to Gainesville ranked 12
th in the league standings and picked up their second conference win with a 3-2 decision over then-ranked No. 16 Tennessee in the opening game of the series.
In midweek non-conference action, Florida picked up a 3-0 victory over FGCU in Fort Myers, Fla. behind a pair of solid pitching performances from starter
Natalie Lugo (11-1) and reliever
Katie Chronister. The duo held the Eagles to just three hits for the program's 14
th shutout of the year.
The victory was
Tim Walton's 950
th career victory in 19 seasons as a head coach. Walton holds a career record of 950-241 and his .798 win percentage ranks first among active NCAA DI head coaches.
South Carolina is coming off of a 6-0 defeat to in-state rival No. 16 Clemson in what was the first meeting between the two programs.
Notable Notes:
Chronister Stellar in Relief
Left-handed hurler
Katie Chronister is having the most productive season of her career since she joined the program in 2017. Chronister has hurled a season-high 49.0 innings and holds a 6-2 record with a 2.14 ERA in 19 appearances and six starts.
The Gainesville, Fla. native has been stellar in relief as she holds a 0.25 ERA and has allowed only one run and eight hits through 27.2 innings of work. Overall, Chronister is riding a 7.0 scoreless inning streak.
Hightower & Lugo Solid In SEC Play
Elizabeth Hightower and
Natalie Lugo hold two of the top three ERA's in SEC play entering this weekend. Lugo ranks second behind Arkansas' Autumn Storms (1.20 ERA) in ERA with a 1.22 mark, while Hightower ranks third with a 1.35 ERA.
Overall, the Gators as a pitching staff leads the SEC with a 1.46 ERA and a league-high five shutouts of SEC opponents.
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