Florida Gators softball takes series over A&M

Report on the Florida Gators softball team:

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Senior Kirsti Merritt and sophomore Kayli Kvistad each recorded a pair of RBI’s in Saturday’s series-clinching win, as No. 1 Florida (47-3/17-3 SEC) downed No. 18 Texas A&M (34-16/6-14 SEC), 7-3, at the Aggie Softball Complex. The Gators have now won 10-straight games over the Aggies.
 
Florida, who’s currently in first place in the SEC standings, now holds a 17-3 mark in conference play for the first time since 2012 when the Gators were 18-2 through 20 league games. In addition, UF’s magic number to win its sixth SEC Championship is down to four.
 
Aleshia Ocasio (17-1) threw a complete game in the circle for the Gators and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out seven.
 
Florida opened the scoring in the third inning when Merritt recorded an RBI single up the middle. One frame later, UF extended its lead to 4-0 when Merritt and seniorKelsey Stewart each recorded RBI singles and Kvistad registered a sacrifice fly to left.
 
Sophomore Janell Wheaton and senior Taylore Fuller set the table in the fourth when they were walked and hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
 
UF added to its lead in the sixth when Kvistad hit her second sacrifice fly of the game and sophomore Nicole DeWitt hit her sixth home run of the season.
 
The fly ball scored freshman Amanda Lorenz, who recorded her first-career triple to lead off the inning.
 
Texas A&M answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of home runs by Tori Vidales and Kristen Cuyos to cut the deficit to 6-3.
 
After the second homer, Ocasio settled down and did not allow a runner to get into scoring position for the remainder of the game.
 
Florida brought the game to its final score (7-3) in the top of the seventh when junior Chelsea Herndon recorded a pinch-hit solo homer to left-center field. It was her fourth long ball of her career and first since May 29, 2014 against Baylor.  
 
Team Notes

  • With today’s win, Florida is now 47-3 and still holds the highest win percentage (.940) in the country.
  • Florida, who’s currently in first place in the SEC standings, hold a 17-3 mark in conference play for the first time since 2012 when the Gators were 18-2 through 20 league games.
  • Florida’s senior class is now 220-31, which currently ranks fifth among four-year class records in program history.
  • Tim Walton is now just one win away from his 600th win at Florida.
  • Saturday’s game was broadcast on SEC Network. Florida is now 8-1 in contests that broadcast on national television.
  • Florida is now 19-3 against unranked opponents this season.

 
Stat Watch

  • UF has now outscored its opponents this season, 316-53.
    • In 2015, UF had a plus-263 run differential (358-95) through 50 games.
    • In 2014, UF had a plus-235 run differential (345-110) through 50 games.
  • Florida’s 53 runs allowed through 50 games is the second fewest in school history through this point in any season.
    • UF’s 2009 squad allowed 40 tallies through 50 contests and Florida’s last two NCAA Championship teams had allowed 95 runs each, respectively.
  • The Gators have made just 22 errors this season and currently sport one of the best fielding percentages (.983) and earned run averages in the nation (0.92). For comparison, Florida had committed 27 errors through 50 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 0.92 team ERA (325.2 IP) would go down as tied for the second-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 .160 batting average against (325.2 IP) would go down as the 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 Saturday, 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 50 games.
    • Florida’s opponents have only attempted to steal nine bases againstAubree 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.

 
Pitching Notes

  • Aleshia Ocasio (17-1), Kelly Barnhill (14-0) and Delanie Gourley (16-2) are looking to become the first trio in school history to all record at least 15 wins in a season.
  • Gourley (164), Barnhill (137) and Ocasio (116) are the second trio in school history to all record 100+ strikeouts in a season. They are trying to become the first trio in school history to all record 125+ strikeouts in a season.
    • UF is the only school in the nation with 3 different pitchers with at least 100 strikeouts this season!
  • Florida’s trio of pitchers are looking to become the second group to all throw at least 100 innings in a single season.
    • UF’s 2002 group of Amanda Moore (174.2 IP), Amanda Knowles (113.2) and Mandy Schuerman (105.0 IP) last achieved this feat.
    • Innings pitched totals = Delanie Gourley – 117.2, Aleshia Ocasio – 116.0, ,Kelly Barnhill – 92.0
      • Ocasio (136.0, 2015) and Gourley (107.2, 2014) have each achieved this feat once before in their careers.
  • Florida’s pitching trio has combined to allow just 53 runs, while they have totaled 417 strikeouts. Both of those numbers lead the SEC.
    • Only two teams in Florida history have ever allowed less than 100 runs in a single season. UF’s 2009 squad allowed just 67 runs and its 2008 team allowed 94 tallies.
    • Florida’s 417 strikeouts currently ranks tied for sixth all-time in program history for strikeouts in a single season.
  • Ocasio’s astounding 0.78 ERA (116.0 IP) would go down as the third-best ERA for a single season in Florida history if the season ended today.
    • 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.

 
Hitting Notes

  • Hitting Streaks:
  • After scoring one run on Saturday, Kelsey Stewart is now just four runs shy of Aja Paculba’s school record 253.
  • In addition, Kelsey Stewart now holds the program record for total bases with 495. Stewart passed Lauren Haeger‘s mark of 494.
  • Nicole DeWitt hit her sixth home run of the season in the sixth inning.
  • Amanda Lorenz recorded her first-career triple to lead off the sixth inning.
  • Chelsea Herndon recorded a pinch-hit solo homer to left-center field in the seventh inning. It was her fourth long ball of her career and first since May 29, 2014 against Baylor.
  • Kayli Kvistad and Lorenz are challenging for the top on-base percentage in school history, as they each have recorded an OBP of .517 and .513 thus far this season.
    • Bailey Castro set the program record a season ago when she reached base at a .536 clip.
  • Amanda Lorenz, who’s currently hitting .393, 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 (48)
    • Hits – 7th (57)
    • Doubles – T-7th (10)
    • Walks – 5th (37)

 
Coaches’ Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
On Florida’s offense…
“We had a lot of chances to score some runs. We weren’t able to take advantage of some opportunities early in the game, but late in the game we finally had some good pieces of hitting and were able to spray the ball all around. We had some great at bats from Amanda LorenzKayli Kvistad and Nicole DeWitt. In addition, a really cool at bat was Chelsea Herndon‘s pinch-hit home run in the seventh. That’s a cool feeling and for her to do that in her home state was special.”
 
On Chelsea Herndon
“If you asked the majority of our players on our team who they would want to come off the bench and hit in a myriad of situations, it would be Chelsea (Herndon). I think she’s got the right kind of demeanor and the right kind of approach.”
 
Series History

  • Florida leads the all-time series with Texas A&M, 12-3; this includes a 6-2 mark in College Station, Texas.
  • After going 2-3 in its first five meetings with the Aggies, UF has won 10-straight games against TAMU.

 
 

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.