The Florida Gators softball team is on the road to Columbia to take on the Missouri Tigers in a key SEC game.
This three-game series will be extremely important for both teams as they aim to improve their standings in the SEC.
There's another SEC series on deck!
🆚 No. 14 Missouri
📍 Columbia, Missouri
⏰ 6pm ET.
📺 SEC Network+
📊 https://t.co/JJZl50j6pN
🔊 https://t.co/eB66PSmJEt#Go Gators pic.twitter.com/CfdsXgeVfS— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 12, 2024
No. 9 Florida (34-7, 9-3 SEC) is second in the conference but just one game behind conference-leading Tennessee. No. 14 Missouri State (31-10, 5-7 SEC) is hungry to move up the standings, ranking her ninth in the conference despite an impressive overall record.
Here's what to watch about this weekend's matchup between two solid softball teams.
Youth and experience at bat
The Gators have two standout young men who have transitioned well to the college game. Freshman pitchers Keegan Rothrock (17-5) and Eva Braun (14-2) have been sensational this season. Both players rank among the top 10 in conference wins among SEC pitchers, making them the first pair of freshmen in Gators history to record 14 or more wins in a season.
T1 | Brown and the Gators begin this game by retiring the sides in a 1-2-3 order.
Gators 0 | Bulls 0
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 10, 2024
Facing them in the batter's box will be an experienced Missouri batting lineup. Their offense is led by three seniors: outfielder Alex Honnold, shortstop Jenna Laird and second baseman Maddie Gallagher. Honnold and Laird are each hitting over .370, and Gallagher is second on the team with nine home runs.
The battle between Florida's young pitchers and Missouri's veteran hitters will be a game to watch.
A wide variety of plate appearances
The Gators and Tigers rank first and second in the SEC in at-bats, respectively. Both teams boast excellent batting lineups across the board and are able to continue swinging their bats for long periods of time in each game.
If that happens, it could be a problem for each team's pitching staff. The University of Florida's young staff will have to remain calm against the University of Missouri's batting lineup.
But it's Missouri that really needs to be watched on the mound. The Gators rank first in the SEC in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and runs scored. He can hit extra-base hits in any at-bat.
Game tying triple!
turn us around, @Kendra Falvey 🗣️
📺 SEC Network | #Go Gators pic.twitter.com/GTLDpUjAfi
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 9, 2024
If the Tigers' staff doesn't come to the game, they could suffer a crushing loss in this important series.
Match time
Florida State and Missouri State will play a weekend series at Mizzou Softball Stadium. Games will be played Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 1:30 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m.
