Gator Softball Releases 2015 Schedule
Thursday, October 23, 2014 | Softball
2015 University of Florida Softball Schedule – Dates and times subject to change
The University of Florida softball program announced its 2015 schedule on Thursday. Under the direction of 10th-year head coach and four-time Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year Tim Walton, the defending national champions will play 26 regular-season games at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, with 18 true road games and 12 neutral-site contests.
Florida's defense of its 2014 national championship features four regular-season tournaments, including two challenging stops in California and two events in Florida. UF's 2015 slate includes tilts with 18 teams who played in the 2014 NCAA Tournament; four of those squads advanced to the eight-team Women's College World Series.
Led by Walton, assistants Jennifer Rocha, Kenny Gajewski and volunteer assistant and former Gator Stacie Pestrak, the Gators will embark on a difficult early-season schedule before entering conference play to prepare a 2015 Florida squad that mixes youth with experience for postseason competition.
“Our non-conference schedule presents a lot of different challenges,” Walton said. “We'll be playing in difficult venues against quality opponents.”
UF will kick off the 2015 slate Feb. 6-8 at the USF Tournament in Tampa, Fla. The Orange and Blue will clash with Hampton, Michigan, Illinois State, Jacksonville and tournament host USF during the season's opening weekend before visiting JU on Feb. 11 for the teams' annual February meeting. The Gators will begin an 11-game homestand during the second weekend (Feb. 13-15) with visits from NC State and Iowa; the Gators defeated the Wolfpack 10-0 (5 innings) last April.
The following weekend, the Gators will host the University of Florida Lipton Invitational Feb. 20-22 in Gainesville, featuring two games against 2014 NCAA qualifier Kansas and one game apiece with Illinois State, Liberty University and Mercer. The 13-day homestand concludes Feb. 25 against in-state rival UCF, who the Orange and Blue defeated twice last season, including once in the NCAA Gainesville Regional final.
The Gators' longest homestand of the season is followed by their longest road trip, an 11-game stretch in Southern California. UF will play five games at the San Diego Classic I from Feb. 27-March 1, with a midweek game at Long Beach State on March 4 before five contests at the Judi Garman Classic March 5-7 in Fullerton, Calif. This event will pit the Gators against Michigan for a second time, in addition to clashes with Pac-12 powers Arizona and Oregon. The Gators took down the Ducks twice last season, including a shutout victory at the WCWS. The SoCal swing will mark a homecoming for freshman infielder Nicole DeWitt (a native of Garden Grove, Calif.), sophomore pitcher Delanie Gourley (Lakeside, Calif.), sophomore outfielder Justine McLean (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), senior shortstop Kathlyn Medina (Downey, Calif.), junior catcher Aubree Munro (Brea, Calif.) and freshman catcher/first baseman Janell Wheaton (San Dimas, Calif.).
SEC play begins March 13-15, when the Gators play host to LSU. Florida took two of three games from the Tigers in Baton Rouge last season, including a thrilling come-from-behind win in the series opener. After the LSU series, the Gators will travel to SEC rival Alabama March 21-23. UF took three of five games from the Crimson Tide in 2014, including a two-game sweep in the WCWS Championship Series in Oklahoma City.
The next weekend brings a road trip to Starkville, Miss., for a three-game set March 27-29 at Mississippi State. The Orange and Blue last faced the Bulldogs in 2013, taking two of three games in Gainesville April 5-7. Following the two-week conference road swing, the Gators will play eight consecutive games within the state of Florida. The stretch begins with a non-conference matchup against UNF on April 1, and continues with an SEC clash with South Carolina April 3-4. The Gators and Gamecocks will play a doubleheader on Saturday. Following Easter weekend, the Orange and Blue will play the first game of a home-and-home-series with Florida State in Tallahassee on April 8, ahead of a conference series with Kentucky April 11-13.
Fans will note that the Alabama and Kentucky series both will be played Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with no game on Friday. Walton said he appreciates the national platform that Florida will have to showcase its program on the SEC Network.
“I'm looking forward to the SEC Network and the coverage it will bring to our school and our sport.” Walton said. “Shifting the Alabama and Kentucky series to Saturday/Sunday/Monday is a way to increase our exposure, and the SEC Network will do this for all of the teams in our league.”
After a midweek matchup with USF in Gainesville on April 15, the Gators will travel to Athens, Ga., for the first time in three years when they take on Georgia April 17-19. Florida State makes the return trip to Gainesville on April 22 before the Orange and Blue will honor their six seniors during the final regular-season home series April 24-26 against Texas A&M.
The regular season concludes at Missouri May 1-3, which will represent a return home for senior outfielder Jessica Damico (Gray Summit, Mo.). To open the postseason, the Gators will travel to Baton Rouge, La., for the SEC Tournament, which runs May 5-9. NCAA Regionals are set to take place May 14-17 at 16 campus sites, with Super Regionals to be held May 21-24 at eight campus sites. The 2015 Women's College World Series is scheduled for May 28-June 3 at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.
Walton became the fastest active coach in the SEC to reach 600 career wins last season, leading the Gators to a 55-12 record in 2014, with a 15-9 mark in conference play. The Gators were 10-2 in postseason games, including a 10-1 record during an NCAA Tournament run that culminated with the program's first national championship.
Be sure to follow Florida on Twitter and visit the team's official Facebook page for all things Gator Softball. In addition, stay tuned to GatorZone.com as the season approaches for updated broadcast information.
-UF-
