GatorCountry.com brings you this week’s Florida Gators softball review as the Gators won the Gainesville regional and advanced to the Super Regionals. In this recap we will break down the past week’s games, plus name a player of the week from the past week.
Florida cruised through the regional this past weekend and for the third straight year finished the regional without giving up a run. The Gators have thrown 10 consecutive shutouts in regional play, which spans over 79.1 innings.
The Gators will participate in the Super Regional for the ninth time in 10 years and for the fourth consecutive season.
Results from the Regional
- Florida defeated Alabama State 11-0- winning pitcher Aleshia Ocasio
- Florida defeated UCF 5-0- winning pitcher Delanie Gourley
- Florida defeated UCF 8-0 – winning pitcher Aleshia Ocasio
Offensive leaders
Senior Aubree Munro started off her senior year of postseason play with a bang, driving in three runs on three hits. Munro also scored two runs this weekend.
Sophomore Nicole DeWitt had one of the biggest offensive weekends for the Gators as she drove in six runs including a big three-run home run to give Florida a run-rule win over UCF on Sunday. DeWitt scored five runs on three hits and walked three times.
Senior Taylore Fuller has struggled some down the stretch, but she came up big over the weekend with four RBI’s. Fuller had four hits and three runs scored, while playing errorless ball at third base.
Pitching
Tim Walton and Florida Gators softball pitching coach Jennifer Rocha threw all three of the Gators pitchers again this past weekend. For the first time all season Kelly Barnhill didn’t start a game as she pitched in relief on Friday night.
Sophomore Aleshia Ocasio picked up two wins in regional play and pitched nine innings while striking out 14 batters. Ocasio gave up just four hits and didn’t allow a run to run her record to 22-1 on the year.
Junior Delanie Gourley picked up a win over UCF on Saturday while pitching seven shutout innings. Gourley struck out 13 hitters while allowing just one infield single in game. Gourley is now 19-3 on the year.
Player of the week
Nicole DeWitt had a team-best six RBI’s over the weekend and that included a home run against UCF on Sunday afternoon.
This week’s schedule
Florida moves into Super Regional play against Georgia in Gainesville next weekend.
Game 1 is Thursday at 7.
Game 2 is Friday at 5.
Game 3 if necessary will be Friday at 8.