Florida Softball - National Champion 14 15

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4.10.2016

The Gators swept the rebs with a 4-2 Sunday win. Katie Barnhill got the win to remain unbeaten and Aleshia Ocassio picked up the save. All three Gator pitchers picked up a win this weekend. 

Nothing is certain when it comes to voters, but UF should return to #1 after an unbeaten week and with Michigan having lost the first game at Nebraska. As a reminder, UF beat Michigan 8-0 on a neutral field early in the season:

OXFORD, Miss. – Kayli Kvistad and Amanda Lorenz each hit their second home run of the series and Kelly Barnhill picked up her 14th win in the circle, as No. 2 Florida defeated Ole Miss, 4-2, to sweep its third SEC series of the season. The Gators (38-3/12-3 SEC) swept the Rebels (28-13/4-8 SEC) for the ninth time in their series history.

In addition, UF has now won 15 of the past 16 matchups between these two schools and Florida has now won 13 straight games over Ole Miss in Oxford.

Florida scored in the top of the first inning for its fourth-straight game, as Lorenz mashed a two-run homer to center with two outs. The long ball was her fourth of the season and second this weekend.

Kirsti Merritt got things going with a walk earlier in the inning.

In the fifth, Alex Voss (single), Kelsey Stewart (double) and Kirsti Merritt (single) all recorded hits to lead off the inning. Kvistad followed with an RBI walk to extend UF's lead to 3-0, but that was all Florida could score during in the inning.

After stranding five runners in the first four innings, Ole Miss finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth when the Rebels scored one run on two hits. During that inning with the bases loaded and one out, Florida brought in sophomore Aleshia Ocasio, who surrendered an RBI fielder's choice to Courtney Syrett.

Kvistad and UM's Haley Ashton traded solo homers in the seventh inning to bring the game to its final score of 4-2.

Overall in the circle, Barnhill (14-0) allowed one run on one hit with a season-high tying five walks and an SEC-high tying nine strikeouts. Ocasio, who earned her fifth save of the season, tossed 2.2 innings and allowed one run and two hits while striking out two Rebels.

Ocasio save total is now tied atop Florida's record book with five other Gators.

Team Notes

•Florida is now 38-3, which is tied for the second best start to a season in school history with its 2013 and 2009 squads. UF began the 2008 season with 39-2 mark.

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After going on the road to sweep Ole Miss, UF is coming home to another tough week. On Wednesday, the Gators play FSU (31-4), a top 10 ranked team and Louisiana Lafayette (32-3), a top 5 ranked team. For a comparison, Auburn went out of conference last weekend to sweep Longwood in Auburn. Longwood, really? UF's schedule this week:

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The FSU game was suspended and later rescheduled due to heavy rain in Gainesville. UF had runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out in a scoreless pitcher's dual in the bottom of the 9th inning. The game was rescheduled to be completed where left off when the Gators visit Tallahassee on May 4. Both teams were scoreless on 3 hits. FSU left 6 runners on base and UF left 5 runners on base. The UF runners aboard were walked and advanced on a passed ball by the FSU catcher. One swing of the bat could end this game in Tallahassee with a Gators win:

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4.16.2016

UF took the first game of the doubleheader against Louisiana Lafayette 5-1. Delaney Gourley (12-2) picked up the win and had 13 strikeouts. The second game is just starting. EDIT: UF run ruled the cajuns 14-1 in game two:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The No. 1-ranked University of Florida softball team swept a Saturday doubleheader against No. 5 Louisiana-Lafayette with a pair of wins at KSP Stadium. Florida scored 19 runs in the doubleheader, taking Game 1 by a 5-1 score before clinching the weekend series with a 14-1 run-rule victory.

With the pair of victories, Florida is now 15-3 on the season against teams ranked in the top 25. In addition, Florida remained unbeaten in 28 non-conference games this season and has now won 119 of 121 non-league games dating back to the start of the 2013 season.

Florida's win in game one of Saturday's doubleheader marked the Gators first-ever triumph over the Ragin' Cajuns in program history. UF was winless in its previous four meetings prior to this weekend.

Junior Delanie Gourley (12-2) gave up two hits and struck out a career-high tying 13 batters in a complete-game effort to earn the win in the opener. Sophomore Aleshia Ocasio (14-1) went the distance in game two and allowed just one run on five hits, while striking out two ULL hitters.

Offensively, senior Kelsey Stewart paced the Gators in game one as she went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and one run scored. In game two, sophomore Kayli Kvistad mashed a pair of home runs and had a career-high six RBI in that contest.

Game 1 Recap
Florida wasted no time on Saturday grabbing the lead and momentum.

After Delanie Gourley struck out six-straight Ragin' Cajun hitters to begin the game, Janell Wheaton got UF's offense going in the bottom of the second with a solo home run to left.

The long ball her sixth of the season and her first since March 5 against South Alabama.

The Gators blew the game open in the bottom of the third when Florida scored four runs on three hits and two ULL errors.

After Justine McLean led off the inning with an infield single, Kelsey Stewart drove her in with an RBI double to left-center field. The hit parade continued with an RBI single up the middle by Kayli Kvistad, who eventually came around to score on a Nicole DeWitt sacrifice fly.

Florida scored its final run of the inning on a Louisiana-Lafayette miscue.

ULL scored its lone run of the game in the fifth when Hayley Hayden recorded an RBI fielder's choice with bases loaded and only one out.

Gourley got out of the jam without any more damage by striking out Shellie Landry to end the inning.

The junior left-hander bounced back and retired the final six ULL hitters she faced to end the game and secure her 12th win of the season.

Game 2 Recap
Florida exploded for seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning on Louisiana-Lafayette.

During the inning, Kayli Kvistad recorded a three-run home run and Aubree Munro notched a two-run triple down the right field line. Amanda Lorenz (infield single) and Taylore Fuller (sacrifice bunt) recorded the other two RBI in the inning.

Kelsey Stewart got things going right off the bat with a single to left field. After Merritt walked and they both moved into scoring position on a passed ball, Amanda Lorenz recorded an infield single to score Stewart and Kvistad followed with a three-run homer to left-center field.

Florida extended its advantage to a run-rule lead of 8-0 in the second inning when Kvistad mashed her second homer of the game with a solo shot to left-center field.

In the third, UF scored four runs highlighted by a Taylore Fuller solo home run and a Kvistad two-run single to right with the bases load.

Although UF led ULL 12-0 after three innings, Louisiana-Lafayette wouldn't go away quietly.

ULL's Aleah Craighton hit a solo home run to left to begin the fourth and the Ragin' Cajuns loaded the bases with their next three hitters to apply the pressure to Ocasio and Florida's defense.

Unfazed, Florida's sophomore right-hander recorded a strikeout and a groundout to get out of the jam and keep the Florida lead over Louisiana-Lafayette in double digits, 12-1.

Stewart got that run back and more with a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to extend Florida's lead over ULL to 14-1.

Ocasio worked a perfect fifth inning to earn her 14th win in the circle this season.

Team Notes•With today's doubleheader sweep, Florida is now 40-3 and still holds the highest win percentage (.930) in the country.

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4.17.2016

UF took out the brooms and swept 5th ranked Louisiana Lafayette 3-0 after winning games one and two by 5-1 and 14-1 scores. The voter that was giving a number 1 vote to Louisiana Lafayette should give that vote to UF now.

Delanie Gourley (13-2) came on early in relief of Kelly Barnhill who was wild with walking batters to pick up her second win of the weekend:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- No. 1 Florida (41-3) utilized a two-run single by Aubree Munro in the second inning and stellar pitching by junior Delanie Gourley to defeat No. 5 Louisiana-Lafayette (32-6), 3-0, on Sunday afternoon to finish a weekend sweep. The Gators collected their first three-game sweep over a top-five opponent since March 6-8, 2011 when the Gators beat No. 3 Tennessee in Gainesville.

In addition, this was Florida's first-ever three-game sweep over a top-five ranked non-conference opponent in program history.

Gourley (13-2) registered eight strikeouts over 4.2 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and no runs, to pick up the win. Gourley relieved freshman Kelly Barnhill who started the game and threw the first 2.2 innings. Florida's rookie right-hander recorded three strikeouts but allowed three hits and four walks.

The Ragin' Cajuns were shutout for just the second time this season.

Florida captured the momentum in the second inning of today's game and carried that throughout the contest.

With runners on first and second and no one out in the top half of the second, Florida recorded a 1-4-3 triple play to end the inning. That was the third triple play in school history, with the previous two coming during the 2010 and 1999 seasons.

UF carried that new-found energy into the bottom of the second, as Nicole DeWitt and Janell Wheaton led off the inning with a pair of singles. After they moved into scoring positon on a groundout, Munro drove them in with a two-run single to left giving Florida a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Barnhill allowed a pair of two-out hits and a walk prompting head coach Tim Walton to make a pitching change. Gourley entered the bases-loaded jam and struck out the first hitter she faced on three pitches to get out of the inning.

Florida added an insurance run in the third when DeWitt recorded her second hit of the contest, this one an RBI single to right extending the UF lead to 3-0.

That was all the run support Gourley would need as ULL was unable to get a runner into scoring position the remainder of the game.

Team Notes

•With today's win, Florida is now 41-3 and still holds the highest win percentage (.932) in the country.
•Florida is now 16-3 on the season against teams ranked in the top 25.
 

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4.20.2016

#20/23 South Florida (39-10) plays the Gators in Gainesville at 6 PM EDT. The game will be shown on SEC Network+. During the first week of the season, UF beat USF 11-1 in Tampa:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 1-ranked Florida softball team (42-3) defeated No. 23 USF (39-11), 3-0, on Wednesday night at KSP Stadium. The Gators recorded their second win this season over South Florida and UF is now unbeaten in 30 non-conference contests in 2016.

After each team loaded the bases in the first inning and failed to push a run across home plate, the game remained scoreless until the fifth when Florida scored the game's only three runs on four hits.

Amanda Lorenz got things going in the fifth with a solo home run of the scoreboard in left-center field. After Kayli Kvistad and Kirsti Merritt followed the solo bomb with a pair of singles, Nicole DeWitt mashed her fourth double of the season to score both runners and give Florida its 3-0 lead.

Florida did all its damage during that inning with two outs.

Kelly Barnhill started and threw the first three innings while recording four strikeouts and allowing just one hit. Sophomore Aleshia Ocasio (15-1) followed the rookie and notched three scoreless innings with four strikeouts and three hits allowed.

Junior Delanie Gourley tossed the final frame for the Gators to earn her fourth save of the season.

USF was shutout for the first time since Feb. 19.

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4.22.2016

Delanie Gourley pitched a no hitter in a 16-0 run rule 5 inning win in game 1 against Mississippi State:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 1-ranked University of Florida softball team (43-3/13-3 SEC) defeated Mississippi State (24-21/3-13 SEC), 16-0 (five innings), in the opener of the teams' three-game Southeastern Conference series on Friday at KSP Stadium. Sophomore Kayli Kvistad recorded five RBI to go along with a pair of home runs and junior Delanie Gourley (14-2) threw the third no hitter of her career as she notched four strikeouts and allowed just three walks in five shutout innings.

Gourley joins Hannah Rogers as the only Gators to throw three no hitters. In addition, Gourley is now one of four Gators (Hannah Rogers, 2013; Stacey Nelson, 2009, Beth Dieter, 2000) to throw two no hitters in one season.

The Lakeside, Calif. native previously no-hit South Dakota on March 9 in the second game of a doubleheader. Gourley recorded her first-career no no during her freshman season on May 16, 2014 against Florida A&M.

All three of Gourley's no hitters have come in five-inning run-rule victories.

Gourley and Rogers are only two Gators throw no hitters against the Bulldogs. Rogers no hit MSU on April 5, 2013.

Florida grabbed the momentum in the first inning on Wednesday and never looked back.

After Florida's left-hander struck out the side in the top of the first, the Gators scored seven runs on six hits in the bottom half of the inning.

Sophomore Kayli Kvistad and senior Taylore Fuller each hit a two-run home run, while Janell Wheaton (double), Aubree Munro (single), and Justine McLean (single) all recorded RBI hits sandwiched in-between those homers.

Friday's contest entered a brief eight-minute rain delay in the bottom of the first prior to Fuller's home run.

With the Gators still leading the Bulldogs, 7-0, in the middle of the third inning, the game entered another rain delay, which lasted one hour and five minutes.

After play resumed in the bottom of the third, Florida added five runs on four hits to extend the Gators lead to 12-0. During that frame, Kvistad hit her second two-run homer of the game and sophomore Nicole DeWitt mashed a two-run bomb to right-center field. Senior Kelsey Stewart got things going during that inning with an RBI single up the middle with no one out.

UF added four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth to bring the game to its final score of 16-0. On Friday, Mississippi had only three baserunners all night, as Gourley yielded walks in the second, fourth and fifth innings.

After Friday's shutout, Florida has not allowed a run in 20 consecutive innings. The Gators season-long streak is 30 innings, which began on March 19 against Tennessee and ended on March 26 at LSU.

In addition, Florida recorded its 23rd shutout of the season.

Team Notes

• With tonight's win, Florida is now 43-3 and still holds the highest win percentage (.935) in the country.

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Game two against Missy St. goes to UF 6-3. The Gators breakout out the brooms on Sunday afternoon:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior Aubree Munro hit her first-career grand slam and sophomore Aleshia Ocasio earned her 16th win in the circle during Saturday's series-clinching win, as No. 1 Florida (44-3/14-3 SEC) downed Mississippi State (24-22/3-14 SEC), 6-3.

Munro, who's currently on a nine-game hitting streak, is hitting .542 (13 for 24) during this streak with three home runs, two doubles, one triple, 11 RBI, and seven runs scored.

The Gators overcame a two-run third-inning deficit with six runs in the bottom of third to mark Florida's seventh come from behind victory in 2016. In the circle, Ocasio (16-1) allowed two runs on five hits and three walks with a season-high seven strikeouts over five innings.

Ocasio allowed two runs in a game for the first time since June 1, 2015.

Junior Delanie Gourley relieved the sophomore in the sixth and tossed two scoreless innings with one strikeout to earn her fifth save of the season and 12th of her career. The Lakeside, Calif. native ranks third in in Florida history with those 12 saves as Stacey Nelson (18) and Hannah Rogers (14) hold the top two marks in program lore.

Mississippi State wasted no time grabbing its first hit and run of the series on Saturday. After Ocasio walked the leadoff hitter in the top of the first, MSU's Mackenzie Toler recorded an RBI double down the left-field line to score the game's first run.

In the top of the third inning after a leadoff triple by Kayla Winkfield, Mississippi State extended its lead to 2-0 on an RBI single by Caroline Seitz.

Undaunted, Florida answered in the bottom of the third inning.

With runners on first and second with two outs, senior Kirsti Merritt recorded a two-run double into right-center field to tie the game at two runs apiece.

After a hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases, senior Aubree Munro hit Florida's first grand slam of the season to left-center field to give the Gators a 6-2 lead.

Mississippi State scored the game's final run in the fifth when MSU's Amanda Ivy recorded a two-out RBI double into right-center field.

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Mississippi State plays the Gators good on Sundays. In 15, the dogs scored 5 in the bottom of the 7th coming back from a 4 run deficit to prevent a Gators sweep in Starkville. Today in Gainesville, the dogs were again playing well and trying to prevent a Gators sweep when UF true freshman Amanda Lorenz hit a two run homer in the bottom of the 10th to win it. MSU played tough all game long:

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Freshman Amanda Lorenz hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to help No. 1 Florida defeat Mississippi State, 3-1 (10 innings), on Sunday to sweep its fourth SEC series of the season. Florida is now 2-0 in extra-inning games this season and Sunday's 10-inning affair marked UF's longest game since the Gators played a 15-inning marathon with Nebraska on June 1, 2013 at the Women's College World Series.

Florida (45-3/15-3 SEC) swept a three-game series against the Bulldogs (24-23/3-15 SEC) for the first time since April 4-5, 2009. In addition, this was fourth time in school history that Florida completed a three-game sweep of Mississippi State. Florida, who's currently in first place in the SEC standings, holds a 15-3 mark in conference play for the first time since 2012 when the Gators were 16-2 through 18 league games.

The Gators are now 3-0 in extra-inning games against the Bulldogs, as they last played an extra inning game on April 28, 2007 in Gainesville.

Pitching and defense reigned supreme early, as both squads were hitless through three innings.

Florida recorded the game's first hit in the fourth, but Mississippi State scored the game's first run in the fifth. MSU's Sarai Nui began the fifth with a solo home run to center to break the scoreless tie.

Undaunted, Florida answered in the sixth.

Senior Kirsti Merritt tied the game up at one run apiece with a sacrifice fly. Senior Kelsey Stewart led off the inning with a single up the middle and scored on Merritt's fly out to right.

The game was knotted at one run apiece until Lorenz recorded her second home run of the week and her sixth of the season to left-center field in the 10th inning.

After allowing just the one run and one hit through five innings, freshman Kelly Barnhill was relieved by junior Delanie Gourley (15-2) in the sixth. Florida's left-hander tossed five of scoreless innings and allowed just two hits, while recording seven strikeouts.

Against Mississippi State this weekend, Gourley tossed 12 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits, while registering 12 strikeouts, two wins and one save.

Team Notes

•With Sunday's win, Florida is now 45-3 and still holds the highest win percentage (.938) in the country.
•Florida, who's currently in first place in the SEC standings, holds a 15-3 mark in conference play for the first time since 2012 when the Gators were 16-2 through 18 league games.

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I can't disagree with The Player of the Week. Delanie Gourley as a junior has matured into the pitcher everybody thought UF was getting when she came out of high school. True freshman pitcher Katie Barnhill reminds me a lot of Delanie in that she still needs to mature under pressure and reduce her walks. She has had the benefit of having Gourley and Ocasio pitching with her in a very good 3 pitcher rotation, one that Tim Walton doesn't hesitate to sub for in any game.

It's unbelievable what true freshman Amanda Lorenz is doing. Under intense pressure in the bottom of the 10th yesterday, she calmly stepped up to the plate and proceeded to hit a game winning 2 run homer over the center field fence. Lorenz' stats are amazing for a true freshman. She has some good wheels too as she showed in stealing a base yesterday too. If she has a sophomore jump as she is likely to do, her stats will be off the charts. She is that good now and will be that good next season. She is an amazing player.

This from Gator Country:

Written by
Andrew Spivey, April 25, 2016

GatorCountry.com brings you this week’s Florida Gators softball review as the Gators swept another SEC weekend series. In this recap we will break down the past week’s games, plus name a player of the week from the past week.

The Gators returned to SEC play and continued right where they left off and that was a sweep of Mississippi State at home and completing a 4-0 week.

Florida is now 45-3 on the year and 15-3 in the SEC, which is tied for the best record in the conference. The Gators are on an 11 game winning streak.

Results:
•#1 Florida defeated USF 3-0- winning pitcher Aleshia Ocasio
•#1 Florida defeated Mississippi State 16-0- winning pitcher Delanie Gourley
•#1 Florida defeated Mississippi State 6-3- winning pitcher Aleshia Ocasio, save Delanie Gourley
•#1 Florida defeated Mississippi State 3-1 – winning pitcher Delanie Gourley

Offensive leaders:

Sophomore Kayli Kvistad is as hot as a player can be at the plate right now. She hit two more home runs this week — third straight week she’s done so. Kvistad finished last week with six hits and five RBI’s including the two home runs.

Senior Aubree Munro has heated up at the plate at just the right time for the Gators and she hit her first grand slam of the season on Saturday. Munro had four hits, five RBI’s and scored three runs to go with her home run.

Freshman Amanda Lorenz didn’t have eye-popping numbers last week but she had the biggest hit of the weekend when she hit a two-run walk-off home run to push the Gators past the Bulldogs on Sunday. Lorenz finished the week with four RBI’s, four hits and three runs scored.

Pitching:

Tim Walton and Florida Gators softball pitching coach Jennifer Rocha continue to hit the right buttons with the pitching staff this year.

Junior Delanie Gourley continued her dominating work this year as she tossed her second no-hitter of the year on Friday night against Mississippi State. Gourley pitched 13 innings of scoreless ball for the Gators last week. Gourley picked up two wins while striking out 14 hitters. Gourley also picked up two saves last week which gives her four on the season.

Sophomore Aleshia Ocasio also picked up two wins last week while pitching eight innings of three run ball. Ocasio struck out 11 hitters during her time in the circle.

Player of the week:

Delanie Gourley continues to dominate in the circle for the Gators and she threw her third career no-hitter and second of the year last Friday night. Gourley is now 15-2 on the year and has four saves.

This week’s schedule:

Florida doesn’t have a mid week game this week due to final exams going on for the student-athletes but they travel for another SEC series this weekend.

Friday vs. Texas A&M at 7:30 P.M

Saturday vs. Texas A&M at 1:00 P.M

Sunday vs. Texas A&M at 12:30 P.M


 

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4.25.2016

Delanie Gourley - SEC Pitcher of the Week
Amanda Lorenz - SEC Freshman of the Week

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Florida softball players Delanie Gourley and Amanda Lorenz were both honored by the Southeastern Conference (SEC) on Monday, with Gourley garnering SEC Pitcher of the Week accolades and Lorenz being named the SEC Freshman of the Week.

Florida, winners of 11-straight games, went a perfect 4-0 this past week with a weekend sweep of Mississippi State.

Gourley's Highlights•Earned a pair of wins and a pair of saves while not allowing a run this week for the Gators.
•Her week was highlighted by throwing her third-career no hitter in the series opener against Mississippi State, where she notched four strikeouts and allowed just three walks in five innings on Friday night.◦Gourley joined Hannah Rogers as the only Gators to throw three no hitters. In addition, Gourley is now one of four Gators (Hannah Rogers, 2013; Stacey Nelson, 2009, Beth Dieter, 2000) to throw two no hitters in one season.
◦Previously no-hit South Dakota on March 9 in the second game of a doubleheader. She recorded her first-career no during her freshman season on May 16, 2014 against Florida A&M.
◦All three of Gourley's no hitters have come in five-inning run-rule victories.

•On Saturday against MSU, Gourley relieved sophomore Aleshia Ocasio in the sixth and tossed two scoreless innings with one strikeout to earn her fifth save of the season, second of the week, and 12th of her career.◦The Lakeside, Calif. native ranks third in in Florida history with those 12 saves as Stacey Nelson (18) and Hannah Rogers (14) hold the top two marks in program lore.

•After allowing just the one run and one hit through five innings in the series finale, freshman Kelly Barnhill was relieved by Gourley in the sixth. Florida's left-hander tossed five of scoreless innings and allowed just two hits, while recording seven strikeouts.
•Against Mississippi State this weekend, she tossed 12 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits, while registering 12 strikeouts, two wins and one save.
•Gourley has logged a team-high 113.2 innings pitched and 157 strikeouts. Both of those numbers are also career highs for a single season. Gourley's astounding 0.68 ERA (113.2 IP) would go down as the second-best ERA for a single season in Florida history if the season ended today. In addition, Gourley's opponent's batting average against her is an astounding .133 (113.2 IP), which would go down as the best b/avg. in Florida history as well.◦Stacey Nelson currently holds the top two single season ERAs in program history, as she recorded a 0.61 ERA (285.1 IP) in 2009 and 0.75 (352.2 IP) in 2008.
◦Jenny Gladding currently holds the top single season opponent batting average against in program history, as she recorded a .146 b/avg. in 2004.


Lorenz's Highlights•For the week, she posted a .364 batting average with four hits, three runs and five RBI.
•Lorenz recorded a pair of game-winning home runs this week, with one coming in walk-off fashion.◦In the bottom of the fifth inning on Wednesday against USF with the game in a scoreless tie, she hit a two-out solo home run of the scoreboard in left-center field.
◦On Sunday in the series finale with MSU, Lorenz hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to help Florida defeat Mississippi State, 3-1 (10 innings), to sweep its fourth SEC series of the season.

•Lorenz is challenging for the top on-base percentage in school history, as she has recorded an OBP of .508 thus far this season. Bailey Castro set the program record a season ago when she reached base at a .536 clip.
•The Moorpark, Calif. native, who's currently hitting .387, is on pace to record the highest batting average for a freshman in school history. In addition, she could become the first rookie in program history to have an on-base percentage over .500. Kelsey Stewart holds the batting title as she hit .378 during her freshman season in 2013.
•Other freshman ranks that Lorenz is climbing into:◦Runs Scored – 7th (44)
◦Doubles – T-7th (10)
◦Walks – 6th (36)


The No. 1 Gators (45-3/15-3 SEC) will begin a crucial league series on Friday night at No. 16 Texas A&M (33-13/6-11 SEC).

2016 Weekly Awards
Gourley Named USA Softball National Player of the Week (4/19)
Ocasio Named SEC Pitcher of the Week (3/28)
Barnhill Named SEC Freshman of the Week (3/21)

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4.25.2016

Excellent article on Amanda Lorenz at floridagators.com - Tim Walton made Lorenz feel like Tim Tebow, 5 years ago:

floridagators.com/news/2016/4/25/chris-harry-harry-fodder-walton-saw-lorenzs-stardom-five-years-ago.aspx

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Out in Moorpark, Calif., they have Apple TV and all the other necessary devices to beam in SEC Network and SEC+ for moments just like Sunday night.

"I'm doing great," a bubbling Danny Lorenz said when he answered his cell phone. "Walk-off!"

It came, of course, courtesy of his freshman daughter, Florida left fielder Amanda Lorenz, who jacked an opposite-field home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the No. 1 Gators a 3-1 victory over Mississippi State, a sweep of their three-game series and an 11th straight win and remain atop the Southeastern Conference standings.

Make that four home runs in the month of April for Lorenz, who as a rookie has statrted every game for the Gators and ranks second on the team in big flies (6), along with batting average (.387) and RBI (38).

"I think I could be doing a lot better than I am and I've been frustrated at times, but I'm also just starting to get used to facing SEC competition, which kind of puts it all in perspective," Lorenz said post-game. "But my confidence is growing. And after that last hit ... ?"

She smiled, even laughed a little.

"It's high, right now."

The sight of Lorenz circling the bases in such dramatic fashion was one UF coach Tim Walton has let dance in his head since he first set eyes on the prodigious California slugger — get this — five years ago.

In 2011, Walton was recruiting on the west coast. The tournament he was attending was in a rain delay, so he went to the indoor batting area at the complex to watch some girls hit in the cages. The way Danny Lorenz recalls it, Walton watched his kid take cuts for a few minutes then turned to the coach and parent.

"I want her."

Lorenz was barely out of the eighth grade.

That fall, the family came to UF on an unofficial visit, just to check things out. They were floored.

"Coach Walton put on a dog and pony show you wouldn't have believed. I mean, that guy can recruit," Danny Lorenz said. "He made Amanda feel like Tim Tebow." 

Before the family got back to California, she knew UF was where she wanted to go. Lorenz's parents wanted to let things settle down a bit. As a superstar on the Orange County Batbusters, one of the top travel teams in the country, the offers were pouring in, including UCLA, right down the interstate. Amanda, though, was undeterred.

So the family made another trek east that winter. Danny bought Amanda a plane ticket as an early Christmas present. She wanted to commit to Walton in person.

After getting that formality out of the way, all Lorenz did was put together a prep career that made her the nation's No. 1-ranked player for the Class of 2015. She hit .592 over four years, with 202 hits, 50 doubles, 39 homers, 126 RBI, a .657 on-base percentage and 1.111 slugging percentage.

Upon arriving at UF, the distance from home was made easier by a trio of her former travel club teammates — junior Justine McLean (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), sophomore Janell Wheaton (San Dimas, Calif.) and freshman Sophia Reynoso (Palmdale, Calif.) — in the locker room. On the diamond, Walton had visions of Lorenz taking on the power-hitting role the team lost when it said goodbye to last season's senior class.

Lorenz is starting to figure some things out relative to putting the barrel of the bat on the ball.

Walton, in fact, said after her game-winner Sunday that once Lorenz accepts the concept of failure — as in going to the plate with the intent of swinging for the fences, but willing to accept the ball won't always go — is when she'll take her hitting to the next level.

"At some point, she's going to be a power hitter to all fields," he said. "With a little bit of failure, there will come more home runs."

Maybe that opposite-field job against the Bulldogs was the start of something. The timing would be awfully good. With just two SEC weekends left, the pressure-packed postseason is around the corner. The Gators, in case anyone has forgotten, are two-time reigning national champions.

Lorenz, who turned 19 Monday, can't wait. As far as she's concerned, the higher the stakes, the better. And the more fun.

"I love the big moments. I love the pressure," said Lorenz, who with the Batbusters won three national titles (and played for a fourth) during four seasons of club ball before coming to Florida. "This is what I live for. I cannot wait for the postseason to get here."

They'll be tuned in out in Moorpark, too.

Like they were Sunday.

"My phone has been buzzing all night," Danny Lorenz said. "This is a pretty small town and everybody pretty much knows everybody."

Get used to hearing that name a lot more in the coming weeks.

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4.29.2016

UF scored 10 runs in the top of the 6th inning to run rule Texas A&M 14-3. The inning was highlighted by an Amanda Lorenz grand slam. Delanie Gourley picked up the win and Aleshia Ocasio picked up the save:

Team Notes

•With tonight's win, Florida is now 46-3 and still holds the highest win percentage (.939) in the country.
•Florida, who's currently in first place in the SEC standings, hold a 16-3 mark in conference play for the first time since 2012 when the Gators were 17-2 through 19 league games.

Gators hammer Aggies in series opener


Special to GatorSports.com

Published: Friday, April 29, 2016 at 11:45 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 29, 2016 at 11:45 p.m.


COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Amanda Lorenz hit a grand slam and Aubree Munro and Janell Wheaton each drove in a pair of runs as No. 1 Florida topped No. 22 Texas A&M 14-3 Friday night.


Lorenz finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored, while Munro was 1-for-3 with two runs and Wheaton had a double and two runs.

In the circle, Delanie Gourley (16-2) struck out seven in four innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and a walk. Aleshia Ocasio tossed two innings, allowing one hit and striking out a pair.

The Gators (46-3, 16-3) play Game 2 of their series with the Aggies (34-15, 6-13) today at 1 p.m., with Sunday’s action scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

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Gators break out the brooms for the sweep on Sunday afternoon after winning game two 7-3:

COLLEGE STATION – The No. 18 Texas A&M softball team was downed by top-ranked Florida, 7-3, Saturday at the Aggie Softball Complex.

The Gators (47-3, 17-3 SEC) opened scoring in the third on a Kirsti Merritt RBI single up the middle, before scoring three runs in the fourth on two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly. UF added to the lead in the sixth as Kayli Kvistad hit a sacrifice fly prior to Nicole DeWitt homering to right.

A&M (34-16, 6-14 SEC) cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth as the Aggies plated three runs in the frame. Sophomore Tori Vidales started the rally with a one-out solo home run, her 14th of the season. Sophomore Ashley Walters was hit by a pitch and was replaced by senior pinch runner Alex Masek, who scored on a sophomore Kristen Cuyos two-run shot down the left field line for her 14th homer on the campaign.

The two home runs are the most given up in a game this season by Florida pitcher Aleshia Ocasio (17-1, 0.78 ERA) and the three runs tie for the most given up by righty.

Florida got an insurance run in the seventh as Herndon hit a leadoff home run to left center.

Sophomore Trinity Harrington suffered the loss, throwing 4.1 innings, giving up five hits, four runs, three walks along with a strikeout. Freshman Samantha Show threw 2.2 innings of relief with four hits, three runs, two walks and two strikeouts.

The Aggies and Gators return to action Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on SEC Network +, available through WatchESPN and the ESPN app. The game can also be heard locally on KWBC 1550 AM or online at

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You can't win them all in the SEC. The aggies put together a big bottom of the 6th to end #1 UF's 13 game winning streak. The aggies rightfully celebrated like they had won the final game of the college world series even though UF won the series 2-1.

Thankfully, #3 Auburn lost 10-2 at #12 Tennessee in a 5 inning run rule loss. The Gators and tigers remain tied for the SEC lead in the loss column, but UF owns the tiebreaker due to winning 2 of 3 at Auburn. Auburn isn't out of the woods for the weekend either. They have the second game of the doubleheader at Tennessee to play today and the third game at Tennessee to play on Monday night on the SEC Network.

#2 Michigan will likely be #1 when the polls roll out, but they don't deserve it. UF has the best record in the nation, the #1 RPI while playing in the best conference in the nation, an 8-0 head to head win over the wolverines, and UM's record has been padded by playing in the ultra crappy BIG:

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Florida (47-4/17-4 SEC) scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning but it wasn't enough as the Gators dropped their series finale with Texas A&M (34-16/7-14 SEC), 6-4, on Sunday afternoon at the Aggie Softball Complex. The Aggies used a four-run sixth inning to halt Florida's 13-game winning streak.

In the circle, freshman Kelly Barnhill and junior Delanie Gourley (16-3), who shouldered the loss, combined to allow six runs (three earned) on seven hits and six walks while they recorded 12 strikeouts. Texas A&M's Trinity Harrington (7-6) pick up the win for the Aggies and Samantha Show earned her third save of the season as she ended Florida's rally in the seventh inning.

After Florida hit three home runs in the first two games of this series, the Gators played some small ball to score Sunday's first run and grab an early 1-0 lead on the Aggies.

In the top of the second inning, senior Aubree Munro reached first base with a walk, moved to second on a Justine McLean single, took third on a Taylore Fuller sacrifice bunt, and scored on a Kelsey Stewart RBI groundout.

Undaunted, Texas A&M answered in the third.

The Aggies' Kaitlyn Aldernik led off the bottom of the third with a solo shot to right-center field to knot the game up at one run apiece.

Following the home run, Barnhill surrendered a walk and a single, which prompted a pitching change from UF head coach Tim Walton. Junior Delanie Gourley entered the circle and allowed a pair of singles, including an RBI bloop-hit to left by Riley Sartain.

With Florida trailing Texas A&M for the first time all weekend, 2-1, the Gators answered with a run in the fourth to tie the game.

During that inning, sophomore Kayli Kvistad recorded an RBI single up the middle after Stewart and freshman Amanda Lorenz set the table for her, as they recorded a one-out walk and single to put runners at the corners.

In the sixth inning, Texas A&M loaded the bases with no one out and scored four runs on a defensive miscue by the Gators, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Erica Russell.

Although Florida was trailing Texas A&M, 6-2, the Gators wouldn't go away quietly.

After UF loaded the bases with no one out in the top of the seventh, Nicole DeWitt recorded an RBI walk and sophomore Janell Wheaton followed with an RBI single to cut the A&M lead down to two.

But that was as close as Florida would get.

Team Notes •Florida's senior class is now 220-32, which currently ranks tied for fourth among four-year class records in program history. ◦Sitting fourth on this list is UF's 2015 graduating class that went 221-41 throughout its four seasons.
◦Taylore Fuller, Kirsti Merritt, Aubree Munro, Taylor Schwarz and Kelsey Stewart are trying to catch UF's 2011 class which boasted a 238-33 mark during their four years.

•Tim Walton is still just one win away from 600th victory at Florida. ◦Walton earned his 700th career win on March 12 at Auburn.

•Sunday's game was broadcast on SEC Network+. Florida is now 25-3 in contests that are streamed online.
•Florida is now 19-4 against unranked opponents this season.

Stat Watch •UF has now outscored its opponents this season, 320-59. ◦In 2015, UF had a plus-270 run differential (367-97) through 51 games.
◦In 2014, UF had a plus-240 run differential (354-114) through 51 games.

•The Gators have made just 23 errors this season and currently sport one of the best fielding percentages (.983) and earned run averages in the nation (0.97). For comparison, Florida had committed 27 errors through 51 contests last season and had a fielding percentage of .979. UF went on to record a .981 fielding percentage and commit just 33 errors, which are both school records.
•Florida's astounding 0.97 team ERA (331.2 IP) would go down as the third-best ERA for a single season in program history if the season ended today.
•Top ERA Season's in UF History: ◦2008 – 0.92 ERA (512.0 IP)
◦2009 – 0.69 ERA (444.0 IP)

•Florida's miniscule .162 batting average against (331.2 IP) would go down as the second-best b/avg. for a single season in program history if the season ended today.
•Top B/Avg. Season's in UF History: ◦2008 – 0.176 b/avg. (512.0 IP)
◦2009 – 0.161 b/avg. (444.0 IP)

•UF did not allow a stolen base on Sunday, remaining the only team in the SEC who has yet to allow more than three stolen bases in 2016. ◦In addition, three stolen bases is the fewest Florida has allowed in school history through 51 games.
◦Florida's opponents have only attempted to steal nine bases against Aubree Munro and Florida's catchers this season. That mark would shatter Florida's school record of 25 attempts that was set in 2015. •In addition, UF's stolen-base-against percentage of 33% (3-9) this season would be the lowest in school history if the season ended today. Florida's 2003 team currently holds that mark as they allowed just 51.7% (31-60) of runners to steal a base safely.



Hitting Notes •Hitting Streak: ◦Kelsey Stewart – seven games (ties season long)
◦Nicole DeWitt – four games (two shy of season long)
◦Amanda Lorenz – four games
◦Kirsti Merritt – three games (two shy of season long)

•After scoring one run on Sunday, Kelsey Stewart is now just three runs shy of Aja Paculba's school record 253.
•Amanda Lorenz recorded her team-leading 11th double of the season in the seventh inning.
•Kayli Kvistad and Lorenz are challenging for the top on-base percentage in school history, as they each have recorded an OBP of .523 and .513 thus far this season. ◦Bailey Castro set the program record a season ago when she reached base at a .536 clip.

•Lorenz, who's currently hitting .396, is on pace to record the highest batting average for a freshman in school history. In addition, she could become the first rookie in program history to have an on-base percentage over .500. ◦Kelsey Stewart holds the batting title as she hit .378 during her freshman season in 2013.

•Other freshman ranks that Lorenz is climbing into: ◦Runs Scored – T6th (49)
◦Hits – 7th (59)
◦Doubles – T-5th (11)
◦Walks – T-5th (37)


Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
"We definitely had our opportunities. Give us credit for giving ourselves a chance and an opportunity to tie or win that game in the seventh inning. I think this goes back to our motto, if we've got an inning, out or strike left, than we still have a chance. I think our kids really fought hard to give us that chance."

Series History •Despite today's loss, Florida still leads the all-time series with Texas A&M, 12-4; this includes a 6-3 mark in College Station, Texas.

Series Stats •The Gators batted .345 on the weekend with three home runs and 24 RBI, while its pitching staff compiled a 2.95 earned run average, with 25 strikeouts and seven walks.
•Amanda Lorenz and Nicole DeWitt paced the Gators offense this weekend they hit a combined .500 (10 for 20) with one home run, seven RBI and eight runs scored.
•In the circle, Aleshia Ocasio had a 2.33 ERA as she led Florida with a 1-0 record with one save in nine innings pitched. In addition, Ocasio had six strikeouts and no walks.

Next Up
The Gators travel to Tallahassee, Fla. on Wednesday for a midweek game at 5 p.m. against Florida State in the Share a Little Sunshine Showdown. UF and FSU will play its regularly scheduled game first and then finish its contest from April 13 at the conclusion of the first game. ESPN3 will televise the first game and Florida Sports Talk will have the radio broadcast. In addition, a live stats link can be found on the Gators' schedule page.

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