Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Florida softball team downed No. 15 Alabama, 6-1, to open the series Saturday, April 7, at Rhoads Stadium. Kelly Barnhill (16-1) picked up the win in the circle and limited the Crimson Tide to just one run on three hits.
The Gators (33-5, 8-2 SEC) utilized a pair of walks and a single to load the bases in the top of the first inning. Amanda Lorenz drew a leadoff walk, which was followed up with a single through the right side by Kayli Kvistad. Nicole DeWitt loaded the bases after reaching via a five-pitch walk.
Freshman Hannah Adams drove in Lorenz with her RBI single to right and Aleshia Ocasio plated Kvistad with an RBI fielder’s choice to Demi Turner at second.
Alabama (24-10, 5-5 SEC) struck back in the second after reaching base via a hit by pitch and a walk. A throwing error on a tapper back to the circle allowed Reagan Dykes to score and close down the lead to 2-1.
Florida replicated the scoring formula from the first inning in the fifth. Lorenz led off the inning with a single to left field and back-to-back walks by Kvistad and DeWitt loaded the bases. This time freshman Jordan Matthews ripped an RBI single to right field to score Lorenz easily from third.
Ocasio tallied her second RBI of the game on a SAC fly to right field that scored pinch runner Haven Sampson.
The Crimson Tided attempted to bounce back in the bottom of the fifth after loading the bases with two outs. Barnhill forced Dykes to fly out to Alex Voss in center field to eliminate the threat.
The Gators added a pair of runs in the seventh to secure the win. DeWitt led off the inning with a single to center field after drawing walks in her previous three plate appearances. A walk by Matthews and a bunt single from Adams loaded the bases with no outs.
Ocasio registered her second SAC fly of the game to push across DeWitt and a single by Sophia Reynoso drove home Matthews for the final run of the game.
Ocasio led the team with three RBI despite going 0-for-2 at the plate. She pushed across runs with a pair of SAC flies and on a bases loaded fielder’s choice. Adams registered a 2-for-4 performance at the plate for her eighth multi-hit game of the season.
Alexis Osorio (8-4) picked up the loss in the decision.
The two teams will return Sunday, April 8, at 3 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. CT for game two of the series.
Walton’s Words
Overall thoughts on today’s game…
“Well we battled the elements today, specifically the temperature. I thought our players did a really good job of playing with a lot of energy and excitement. Being able to score in the first inning obviously makes it a little easier to go out and compete the rest of the game, but overall I thought we came in with a pretty good game plan. We pitched well, played good defense and found a way to get the hits when we needed to.”
On the Gators presence at the plate…
“I thought we did a good job. I felt like maybe we made her (Alexis Osorio) change her game plan a little bit and throw different pitches, because we weren’t swinging out of the strike zone. To get the fielder’s choice RBI, the SAC flies and a couple of stolen bases helped make it a productive day for us.”
Notable Notes:
· Tim Walton secured his 699th win as the head coach of the Florida Gators in the victory against Alabama.
o Tim Walton’s .799 career winning percentage is highest win percentage amongst active NCAA Division I coaches.
o Top 5 Active DI Coaches – Career Records
1. Tim Walton | 16 Seasons | 822-207 (.799)
2. Mike Candrea | 31 Seasons | 1,547 – 394 – 2 (.797)
3. Mike White | 9 Seasons | 412 – 107 – 1 (.793)
4. Patty Gasso | 24 Seasons | 1,177 – 324 – 2 (.784)
5. Patrick Murphy | 21 Seasons | 1,039 – 302 (.775)
· For the 27th time this season, the Gators scored in the first inning and have now improved to 26-1 when scoring first.
· Amanda Lorenz reached base safely for the 38th time this season.
o She currently has reached base safely in 162 of 169 game over her career.
o Lorenz scored twice and surpassed Lauren Haeger to move into eighth all-time with 163 career runs.
· Nicole DeWitt extended her hitting streak to four game after going 1-for-1 at the plate with three walks.
· Kelly Barnhill is now tied for third all-time with Delanie Gourley after recording seven strikeouts in today’s game. She now has 710 career strikeouts.