The softball season is here, and the Gators are set and ready.
The Gators will open their season in Tampa at the USF-Rawlings Invitational. Their first game of the weekend is against the Oregon State Beavers with first pitch at 5:30 p.m.
This is the first matchup of the full weekend. Florida will play two games on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s contests include Michigan and Illinois State while Sunday’s are Bethune-Cookman and USF.
Their first home game is on Wednesday against Jacksonville University at 6 p.m.
The Gators sit at No. 17/18 in the country after the NFCA and USA Softball’s preseason rankings, respectively. They also came it at No. 20 according to D1Softball and No. 24 according to Softball America.
The SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll has Florida sitting at No. 7.
Reigning NFCA Player of the Year and SEC Player of the Year Skylar Wallace leads Florida’s campaign after a monumental 2023 season. She racked up accolades such as preseason All-SEC, Softball America’s All-American, No. 6 on the Softball America Top 100 Players List and on the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List.
All-SEC Kendra Falby and Reagan Wash also return for their junior seasons. Seniors Avery Goelz, Baylee Goddard, Emily Wilkie and Katie Kistler are back for their final campaigns.
Transfers Brooke Barnard (Ole Miss), Jocelyn Erickson (Oklahoma), Korbe Otis (Louisville) and Mackenzie Wooten (Virginia) will be making their debut for the Orange & Blue.
Otis earned honors of her own with spots on Softball America’s All-American Preseason Team and the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List.
Seven freshmen will make their collegiate debuts: Alyssa Hovermale, Ariel Kowalewski, Ava Brown, Cassidy McLellan, Keagan Rothrock, Mia Williams and Olivia Miller.
Brown and Rothrock come into the 2024 season with Gatorade Softball National Player of the Year awards from 2023 and 2022, respectively. Both also have the accolade on the state level, as well.
Florida is led by Tim Walton in his 19th year as head coach. Walton is included in the 2024 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class and will be inducted in December. His all-time record at Florida is 926-223 and has eight SEC titles and two national titles.
You can find their season schedule here.
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