GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Junior Charla Echols was announced as the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week by the league office Monday afternoon. This is the first SEC Player of the Week awarded to Echols in her career.
Echols’ hot start at the plate is the best by a Gator in program history through the first two games of the season. The Newnan, Ga. native went a combined 6-for-6 in the doubleheader with USF this past Saturday with a double, a triple, a home run and six RBI.
Defensively, she turned a timely double play as she snagged a line drive low off the ground at third base and whipped the ball over to Hannah Adams at second to double up a USF baserunner in scoring position with the game tied 3-3 in the 4th inning of the first game.
Later in the 7th inning, with the score still tied 3-3, Echols drove in a pair of crucial runs with a double to center field. She later went on to score the final run of the game to give UF a 6-3 victory.
Echols continued to be an influential factor in the second game of the day as she extended the Gators lead to 2-0 with her first career triple off the center field wall in the top of the 1st inning.
In her following at-bat in the 2nd inning, the talented lefty belted a three-run home run over the center field wall to push the Gators lead out to 7-0 over USF.
Echols and the Gators return to action with their home-opener Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. against Jacksonville. The game will be streamed via the SEC Network+ and can be listened to live on 98.1FM/850AM WRUF.
