Florida Gators News: Softball dominates to open season, more

Softball season is here, and it means fans of the Florida Gators finally have a team to root for that doesn’t require constant frustration. In fact, the fourth-ranked Gators turned their weekend at the USF-Rawlings Invitational in Tampa into a laugher.

Florida played three games at the invitational, winning all three games by a combined score of 41-2. The Gators beat Boston University 11-2, Boston College 9-0, and Illinois State by a soul-crushing score of 21-0.

All three games were called after the fifth inning due to mercy rule. It eclipsed the previous school record for most runs in the first three games of the season by nine runs.

Avery Golez was 4-8 with a walk and four runs scored, Regan Walsh hit two home runs during the weekend, and Sam Roe was 4-7 with two walks and a home run.

Walsh’s inclusion in the starting lineup was notable because she got the nod over transfer Pal Egan. Walsh hit .268 last season as a freshman with an on-base percentage of just .301 (she did have 50 RBIs). Egan was the Southland Conference player of the year.

The Florida Gators were supposed to take on USF yesterday, but the game was postponed due to the weather. Florida will take on Jacksonville University in a home-and-home set tomorrow and Wednesday.

Florida Gators: Three school records in track and field are broken

The track team continues to wind up in preparation for the SEC championships and the national championships next month for the indoor track season. Competing in Arkansas at the Tyson Invitational and in Boston at the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invite, three school records were set by the Florida Gators:

• Talitha Diggs ran 22.61 in the 200 meter dash
• Sam Austin ran 1:46.08 in the 800 meter run (which is also the fastest time in the country this season)
• Imogen Barrett ran 2:01.23 in the 800 meter run (good for 4th best in the country)

The SEC Championships for indoor track and field start on February 24.