Special report on the Florida Gators softball team:
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida pitching duo of Aleshia Ocasio and Kelly Barnhillcombined for 14 strikeouts in 12 shutout innings, as the No. 1-ranked Florida softball team defeated South Alabama and FIU on Saturday afternoon at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
The Gators improved to 20-0 on the season as they defeated the Jaguars 9-0 and Panthers 10-0 (five innings) on the second day of the 2016 Aquafina Invitational. Florida has now totaled 12 shutouts and 10 mercy-rule victories this season.
Offensively, Florida was led by senior Kirsti Merritt who went 5 for 6 on the day with three RBI, two runs scored, one walk and one hit by pitch.
Merritt recorded a career-high four hit performance against South Alabama and became the first Gator since Kelsey Stewart achieved this feat on May 7, 2015 against South Carolina.
In addition, sophomores Nicole DeWitt and Janell Wheaton combined for two home runs and six RBI on the afternoon.
In the circle, Aleshia Ocasio (6-0) defeated the Jaguars by totaling seven strikeouts in seven scoreless innings pitched. The sophomore allowed six hits and walked two USA hitters. Against FIU, Barnhill (7-0) tossed five shutout innings to go along with seven strikeouts and two hits and walks allowed.
South Alabama Recap
Florida loaded the bases in the first inning and scored its first run of the day whenTaylore Fuller was hit by a pitch for a team-leading seventh time this season. SeniorKirsti Merritt followed her classmate with a single to right field giving UF a 2-0 advantage.
UF added to its lead in the third when sophomore Janell Wheaton led off the inning with her team-leading fifth home run of the season. Later in the frame after Florida loaded the bases, senior Kelsey Stewart recorded an RBI walk.
The Gators were unable to push another run across in the inning.
Florida added a run in the fourth when rookie Amanda Lorenz led off the inning with her first collegiate home run to straight-away centerfield.
After a scoreless fifth, Fuller recorded her first-career triple to right field and scored when her classmate, Kirsti Merritt, singled to right.
Florida added three runs in the seventh which brought the game to its final score of 10-0. During that inning, sophomore Nicole DeWitt (single), Taylor Schwarz (walk) and Lorenz (single) all recorded the three RBI.
Despite scoring 10 runs, Florida left a staggering 14 runners on base.
Right-hander Aleshia Ocasio worked in-and-out of trouble all afternoon, but found a way to throw her third complete-game shutout this season. The Jaguars had their best chance to score in the first inning when Emily Messer led off the game with a single and a pair of walks with one and two outs loaded the bases.
Ocasio recorded two strikeouts and a groundout to get out of inning without any damage.
FIU Recap
Florida didn’t waste any time and scored six runs on five hits in the bottom of the first inning.
The inning was highlighted by three doubles (Kelsey Stewart, Amanda Lorenz, Kayli Kvistad) and a two-run home run by sophomore Nicole DeWitt.
Florida added a pair of runs in the second when Janell Wheaton recorded an RBI single to right field. Kvistad helped UF score its other run when she drew a base on balls with the bases loaded.
The Gators their final two runs of the game in the third inning when Janell Wheatonnotched her team-leading 25th RBI and Taylore Fuller recorded 18th of the season.
In the circle, Kelly Barnhill tossed a two-hit shutout and struck out seven to earn the victory
News & Notes
- UF has now outscored its opponents this season, 138-11.
- A season ago, UF had a plus-124 run differential (159-20) through 20 games.
- The Gators have made just eight errors this season and currently sport one of the best fielding percentages (.984) and earned run averages in the nation (0.58). For comparison, Florida had committed 15 errors in its first 20 contests and had a fielding percentage of .970. UF went on to record its best fielding percentage (.981) and commit just 33 errors, which were both school records.
- Florida’s senior class is now 193-28 and trying to catch UF’s 2011 class which boasted a 238-33 mark during their four years.
- Tim Walton is now just five wins away from his 700th win.
- Janell Wheaton hit her team-leading fifth home run of the season against the Jaguars.
- The San Dimas, Calif. native had just one homer last year as a freshman.
- Nicole DeWitt hit her second home run of the season against the Panthers.
- The Garden Grove, Calif. product has now tied her home run from a year ago.
- Taylore Fuller hit the first triple of her career against South Alabama.
- Freshman Amanda Lorenz recorded her first-career home run vs. the Jaguars.
- Rookie Theresa Swertfager notched her first-career base hit in the fourth inning against Panthers/
- Florida recorded its 10th and 11th double plays of the season against South Alabama.
- UF’s opponents still have yet to allow an opponent to steal a base this season.
- Florida is the only team in the SEC who has yet to allow a stolen base in 2016.
- Kelly Barnhill has now allowed just one extra base hit in 38.1 innings pitched this season.
- Florida has allowed just one home run in 2016, while the UF pitching staff had allowed five at this point last season.
Coaches’ Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
On Kirsti Merritt…
“I have been bouncing her back-and-forth between the two- and the six-hole in our lineup. It seems like anyone I put in that sixth spot has been getting a lot of hits. Kirsti (Merritt) had a really nice day today, as she was hitting the ball to all fields. Kirsti did a nice job hitting the ball to right field, left field and she got some nice bunts down too.”
On Florida’s offense…
“I thought we just didn’t try to do too much, as we took our walks when they were there. We also hit the ball to right field, left field, up the middle and out of the ball park. It was a combination of good placement and being under control with good swings.”
On Florida’s pitching…
“I thought both Aleshia (Ocasio) and Kelly (Barnhill) were both good. Kelly worked ahead and mixed in a good change of speeds with good movement. I don’t think Aleshia had her best stuff today, but I do think she pitched well and used her defense when she had too.”
Series History
- Florida is now 13-3 all-time against FIU and winners of 12 of the last 13 games in the series.
- The Gators improved to 2-0 all-time against South Alabama and has defeated the Jaguars by a combined score of 22-0.