Florida Gators

 
OKLAHOMA CITY – University of Florida sophomore Aleshia Ocasio is one of three finalists for the 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, announced Wednesday by the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA). The other finalists are Auburn's Kasey Cooper and Michigan's Sierra Romero.
 
A season ago, Lauren Haeger became the first Gator to receive the award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women's softball. Haeger was one of three finalists in addition to Oregon's Cheridan Hawkins and Michigan's Sierra Romero.
 
In just her sophomore season, Ocasio boasts a 22-1 record and a 0.65 ERA through regional play. Ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in saves, Ocasio leads the country in ERA, helping to land her First Team All-SEC accolades.  Ocasio also leads the SEC in ERA, and is ranked in the Top 10 in the conference in opposing batting average (.182), strikeouts (144), wins (22) and saves (6).
 
The winner of the 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced on May 31 at the team only banquet just prior to the start of the Women's College World Series. This award is voted on by coaching representatives of 10 Division I Conferences in the 15 ASA/USA Softball Regions, members of the media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country as well as past winners of the award.
 
Ocasio's Season Breakdown
Season Recap
Ocasio, who was Florida's third freshman pitcher to gather All-America honors in school history (Aja Paculba, 2008; Hannah Rogers, 2011), has continued to improve and is having a record-breaking sophomore season.
 
Statistically, Ocasio is 22-1 this season with a school-record six saves. In 139.2 innings pitched, the St. Cloud Fla. native has the top earned run average (0.65) in the nation to go along with 144 strikeouts and 23 walks while holding opposing hitters to just a .182 batting average.
 
Ocasio's astounding 0.65 ERA (139.2 IP) would go down as the second-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.
 
Offensively, Ocasio has found her way into the lineup over the past month as she's hitting .444 (12-for-27) with one double, one triple and one home run to go along with three RBI and seven runs scored this season.
 
Top Performances
Against Jacksonville on Feb. 17, Ocasio recorded the 16th no hitter in Florida history and the first since her teammate Delanie Gourley threw one in the 2014 NCAA Regional against Florida A&M (May, 16). A hit batter in the first and a walk in the fourth were the only base runners allowed. Her no-no was the first in a home opener in program history.
 
Following her no hitter, rookie Kelly Barnhill one-hit JU in a complete game effort. Ocasio and Barnhill became the first set of Florida teammates to throw a no hitter and one hitter back-to-back since Stacey Nelson and Stephanie Brombacher accomplished the feat on Feb. 13, 2009, against Texas Tech and Coastal Carolina.
 
After she recorded two wins and one save in 10 shutout innings at LSU, Ocasio garnered SEC Pitcher of the Week honors, marking her second-career SEC weekly award of her career. 
 
The St. Cloud, Fla. native's offensive prowess took off in Florida's series opener at Texas A&M on April 29. During that Friday evening, Ocasio recorded her first-career double.
 
Just five days later, Ocasio hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the 12^th inning to lift the Gators to victory in Florida's halted game with Florida State from April 13. The long ball was the second of her career and the first since Feb. 22, 2015 against Mercer.
 
In addition, Ocasio earned the win in that contest against FSU.
 
Ocasio ranks among the SEC leaders in the following categories:

• ERA (0.65, first)
• Opponent average (.182, fourth)
• Strikeouts (144, 10th)
• Saves (6, T-2nd)
• Wins (22, sixth)
• Walks allowed (23, seventh)
• Runs allowed (16, second)
• Earned runs allowed (12, T-2nd)

 
Ocasio sits among the NCAA leaders in the following categories:

• ERA (0.65, first)
• Saves (6, eighth)
• Shutouts (7, 20th)
• Hits Allowed Per Seven Innings (4.46, 16th)
• Wins (22, 35th)
• Walks Allowed Per Seven Innings (1.15, 22nd)

 
2016 Season Honors:

• USA Softball Player of the Year Top Three Finalist
• First Team All-SEC
• SEC Pitcher of the Week once (3/28)
• First Team All-Southeast Region 

 
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