CHARTING THE GATORS
ACES WILD AT SUPER REGION
The Gainesville Super Region has all the looks of a classic pitcher's duel, with a pair from each team — No. 1-seeded Florida (53-7) and 15-seed Alabama (45-16) — among the best in the country. Making the matchup all the more intriguing is that the two programs, powerhouses who have won three of the last five Women's College World Series — have struggled to hit the ball of late. The Gators have combined for only two runs in their previous four losses, including a 2-0 setback against Oklahoma State in last week's regional, while the Crimson Tide totaled just nine hits in scratching out a pair of 1-0 wins in two of their Super Region defeats, both against Minnesota. Alabama, in fact, was shut out in eight of its 16 losses this season. Thursday's night's Game 1 figures to pit UF's
Kelly Barnhill against Bama's
Alexis Osorio, while Friday's Game 2 looks like
Delanie Gourley for the Gators vs. the Tide's
Sydney Littlejohn.
Here's a tale of the tape for both matchups.
| Kelly Barnhill (Florida) |
Statistic |
Alexis Osorio (Alabama) |
| 23-2 |
Won-Loss |
22-7 |
| 0.35 |
ERA |
1.22 |
| 310 |
Strikeouts |
318 (leads SEC) |
| 30 |
Walks |
98 |
| .120 |
Average |
.116 |
| 12 |
Shutouts |
6 |
| Delanie Gourley (Florida) |
Statistic |
Sydney Littlejohn (Alabama) |
| 20-4 |
Won-loss |
17-8 |
| 0.71 |
ERA |
1.28 |
| 217 |
Strikeouts |
183 |
| 25 |
Walks |
33 |
| .141 |
Average |
.197 |
| 11 |
Shutous |
7 |
Also worth noting:
* The Crimson Tide have reached a Super Regional in all 13 years since the NCAA introduced the format in 2005.
* When Alabama scores a run in the first inning, the Tide are 24-1. They're 38-3 when scoring first overall.
* Florida is 48-3 when scoring first this season.
* The Tide's 26 shutouts by their pitching staff is tied for the school record.
* UF's 38 shutouts this season are the most in the nation.
* Florida has five players hitting .300 or better: 1B
Kayli Kvistad (.389), OF
Amanda Lorenz (.379), 2B
Nicole DeWitt (.333), OF
Aleshia Ocasio (.314), SS
Sophia Reynoso (.303). Alabama has four:
Demi Turner (.397),
Bailey Hemphill (.322),
Marris Schroeder (.306),
Chandler Dave (.303).
* The last time the two met in a series, Alabama took two of three from the Gators during, marking UF's only home regular-season series loss over the last two seasons.
* Florida's 3-2 win over Alabama during the 2016 season marks the only time that the Gators have scored more than one run against either Osorio or Littlejohn in their careers. Florida has faced them in seven games, either starting or in relief.
