UF has never faced three of its opponents (Stephen F. Austin, Omaha, Elon) and has competed against UAB and Jacksonville State a combined three times.
Photo By: Jim Burgess
Game NotesInterviews:
Walton, Ocasio, Kvistad GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 1-ranked Gator Softball team (6-0) heads to Orlando on Friday to play five games in three days at ESPN's World Wide of Sports in Kissimmee, Fla. UF has never faced three of its opponents (Stephen F. Austin, Omaha, Elon) and has competed against UAB and Jacksonville State a combined three times.
Although UF's offense is averaging nine runs per game, its pitching and defense have carried the torch thus far this season. Florida has allowed just one run and committed only one error through six games. The one run allowed ties for the best mark since 2009 when UF allowed just one tally through its first eight contests.
Coaches' CornerHead Coach Tim Walton:"As you go through [a season], we have to evaluate what kind of hitters we aren't, and right now we just don't seem to want to strikeout a whole lot and we're not lifting a lot of balls. I think we're just going to stay with our current plan, which is to get as many hits as we can and to take extra bases depending on what throw the defense makes. Those are the little things that we're able to do. We don't always have to hit home runs to score runs, but we have some pop in our lineup. However, it just seems to want to hit like that right now."
Quick Hits- The pitching duo of Aleshia Ocasio and Kelly Barnhill combined for 16 strikeouts and one hit allowed, as Florida swept Jacksonville in a doubleheader by scores of 6-0 and 10-0 in UF's home-opening games.
- Florida's 6-0 win in game one against JU ended a streak of four straight run-rule victories to begin the 2016 campaign, which was the longest such streak to start a season in program history.
- In game one, 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). In addition, Ocasio's no-no was the first in a home opener in program history.
- In game two, Barnhill became the sixth freshman in UF history to throw a one-hitter and the second Gator this season. For the game, the Marietta, Ga. native totaled nine strikeouts in five shut-out innings.
- 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.
- UF has now outscored its six opponents this season, 54-1. A season ago, UF had a plus-55 run differential (62-7) through six games.
- Following opening weekend, UF is still ranked first in the ESPN/USA Today preseason polls. Last season, Florida became the first team since Arizona in 2007 to be ranked No. 1 in the first and last polls of the year.
- Senior Taylore Fuller is off to a fast start in 2016, hitting .538 with six runs scored five RBI. In addition, she has an on base percentage of .714 that ranks third in the SEC entering the weekend.
- Rookie Amanda Lorenz is one of three Gators hitting at or above .500 after six games. The Moorpark, Calif. native is 8 for 15 on the season with nine RBI, two doubles and an SEC-leading 12 runs scored.
- As a team, Florida ranks fourth in the league in hitting (.383), fourth in on-base percentage (.524) and second in runs scored (54), despite run-ruling five of its six opponents this season.
- UF became the first defending NCAA Champion to shut out its first three opponents since 1992, when Arizona shut out its first seven foes.
- The Gators are ranked at or near the top in every major pitching category and Florida is by far the best defensive team with its .993 fielding percentage and just one error allowed through its first six games.
- Florida enters this weekend with a streak of 31 innings without committing an error.
Setting the Stage: Diamond 9 Citrus Classic- UF has never faced three of its opponents (Stephen F. Austin, Omaha, Elon) this weekend and has competed against UAB and Jacksonville State a combined three times.
- Florida has defeated the Blazers and Gamecocks by a combined score of 11-4, but has not faced UAB since 2013 and Jacksonville State since 2001.
Broadcast InformationAll five games this weekend can be heard on
Florida Sports Talk (WGGG-AM & WMOP-AM/FM), as Joel Sebastianelli will have the call from Tampa. In addition, a few of Florida's games this weekend will be broadcast on ESPN3. Check
FloridaGators.com for which specific games will be streamed online.
Live StatsLive stats links for the weekend can be found on the Gators'
schedule page.
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