Florida Gators

Game Notes
 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 1 Florida Softball team (26-1) will face Winthrop (10-16) in a midweek game on Wednesday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The Gators and Eagles have met just once in the two schools' history, when Winthrop made a trip to Gainesville in 2004. Florida defeated Winthrop in that contest, 7-1.
 
Wednesday's game begins a four-game homestand for the Orange and Blue as the Gators host No. 16 Tennessee this weekend.  Florida is unbeaten in 24 non-conference games this year and has won 115 of 117 non-league games dating to the start of 2013.
 
Wednesday's game will be broadcast on SEC Network+. Florida posted a 15-2 record overall and a 12-0 mark at home last season when appearing on SEC Network+, which debuted a season ago. UF is 4-0 in such games this season.
 
Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
"I'm excited for our team to come home and play in front of our great fans. We did a lot of good things this past weekend, but we obviously have a lot to improve upon. Winthrop is a very talented team and I'm excited to see how our team responds after a hard-fought SEC series."
 
Quick Hits

• Florida fell to Auburn on Monday, night marking the Gators' first loss this season. The setback snapped UF's 27-game winning streak dating to last season. However, Florida's 26-0 start was the second-best start to a season in school history. UF began the 2015 season 28-0.
• After taking two out three from Auburn over the weekend, UF opened SEC play with a series win for the first time since 2014 when the Gators took two of three from Ole Miss.
• UF has an overall scoring margin of 189-26, including 14 shutouts and 13 mercy-rule victories. After UT Arlington (19-2) dropped a pair of contests this past weekend, UF holds the highest win percentage in the country (.963). 
• Although UF's offense is averaging 7.12 runs per game, which ranks 16th in the country, its Florida's pitching and defense that have carried the torch thus far in 2016. Florida has allowed just 26 runs and committed only 11 errors through 27 games.
• The Gators currently sport the third-best fielding percentage (.984) and the top earned run average in the nation (0.79). For comparison through 27 games last season, Florida had committed 18 errors and had a fielding percentage of .973. UF went on to record its best fielding percentage (.981) and committed just 33 errors. Both were both school records.
• The Gators have allowed just one stolen base this season, which is the fewest in the SEC. 
• Offensively, UF sits second in the country in on-base percentage (.492), 16th in scoring (7.12) and ninth in batting average (.361).
• Kirsti Merritt is hitting .417 (5 for 12) over the past week with four home runs, one double, 12 RBI and eight runs scored.
• Kelsey Stewart is the NCAA active leader in career hits (318) by almost 50 tallies. 
• UF hitters have struck out 66 times on the year; each of the Gators' three pitchers has 68+ strikeouts
• (Delanie Gourley - 87, Kelly Barnhill - 72, Aleshia Ocasio - 68).
• Ocasio has one of the best ERA's in the nation (0.47) and Gourley is sixth in strikeouts per game (10.7).
• The pitching trio of Delanie Gourley, Aleshia Ocasio and Kelly Barnhill have combined to allow the fewest runs in the SEC (28) and record the most strikeouts (227).

 
Setting the Stage: Winthrop

• The Gators and Eagles have met just once in the two schools' history, when Winthrop made a trip to Gainesville in 2004. Florida defeated Winthrop in that contest, 7-1.

 
Broadcast Information
In addition to the game being broadcast on SEC Network+, all 2016 Florida Softball games can be heard on Florida Sports Talk (WGGG-AM & WMOP-AM/FM).
 
Live Stats
Live stats links for the weekend can be found on the Gators' schedule page.
 
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