Florida Gators

 
Game Notes
Interviews: Walton, Fuller, McLean, Kvistad, Ocasio
 
BATON ROUGE, La. – It's another weekend and another top-25 opponent for the University of Florida softball team. The No. 1-ranked Gators (30-1) travel to Baton Rouge, La., this weekend to continue Southeastern Conference play, as No. 7 LSU hosts Florida for a doubleheader on Friday and the series finale will be Saturday afternoon at Tiger Park.
 
UF enters this weekend looking to open its season with three-straight SEC series victories for the first time since 2013.
 
Florida, picked in the preseason to win the SEC, is looking to win its second-straight SEC regular season crown in 2016, a feat UF last achieved in 2008 and 2009.
 
Florida and LSU last met at the Women's College World Series on May 29, 2015, when the Gators defeated the Tigers, 4-0. The Gators hold a slight 6-4 advantage over the Tigers in the two schools' last 10 meetings, but LSU holds the all-time series lead, 32-24, including a 15-9 mark in Baton Rouge, La.
 
After Friday's doubleheader will be broadcast on SEC Network+. Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN2. Florida posted a 15-5 record on national television a season ago and is 4-1 so far this season.
 
Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
"I was really excited about our sweep of Tennessee last weekend, and I can't thank our fans enough. We had almost 2,100 people in attendance on Sunday and had really good crowds on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. It was really fun to see our fans be so energetic and involved in the games, so we appreciate them.
 
"Last weekend wasn't the best for us overall offensively, but our pitching and defense was as advertised, as we played excellent defense and we pitched really well. But now we're ready for LSU. This was a tough week of preparation and we're going to Baton Rouge, La., which is one of the best and toughest places to play in the entire country. It's going to be tough for our team to play well, not only because of their environment, but LSU has a great pitching staff with a lot of depth and they are a really athletic team. They are a team that always plays us well, especially at home. I'm excited for this weekend and I know our team is excited for this challenge."
 
Quick Hits

• Florida is currently tied with its 2011 team for the best start to a season in school history with a 30-1 record.
• The Gators have won five of their first six SEC games for the first time since 2014.
• UF has an overall scoring margin of 208-28, including 17 shutouts and 13 mercy-rule victories. Florida entered this week with the highest win percentage in the country (.968) and if the Gators win Game 1 of this three-game series, UF will improve to 31-1 on the season, marking the best start to a season in school history.
• Although UF's offense is averaging 6.71 runs per game, which ranks 20th in the country, its Florida's pitching and defense that have carried the torch thus far in 2016. Florida has allowed just 28 runs and committed only 11 errors through 31 games. UF's 28 runs allowed through 31 games is tied for the second fewest in school history through this point in any season. Florida's 2009 squad allowed 23 tallies through 31 contests.
• The Gators currently sport the best fielding percentage (.986) and earned run average (0.87) in the nation. For comparison through 31 games last season, Florida had committed 22 errors and had a fielding percentage of .972. UF went on to record a fielding percentage of .981 and commit just 33 errors, both school records.
• The Gators have allowed just two stolen bases this season, the fewest in the SEC.
• Offensively, UF is atop the country in on-base percentage (.479), ranks 20th in scoring (6.71) and ranks ninth in batting average (.349).  Florida's OBP through 31 games is the highest in school history through 31 games, while its batting average ranks second to UF's 2011 squad that was hitting .362 through 31 contests.
• Kayli Kvistad, who has the highest batting average and RBI total on the team, is hitting .440 (11 for 25) over her last 10 games with two home runs, 14 RBI and four runs scored.
• Kelsey Stewart is the NCAA active leader in career hits (326) by almost 50 tallies.
• UF hitters have struck out 86 times on the year while two of the Gators' three pitchers have 95+ strikeouts.
• (Kelly Barnhill - 99, Delanie Gourley - 95, Aleshia Ocasio - 73). This group is looking to become the second trio in school history to all record 100+ strikeouts in a season. UF achieved this feat last season when Lauren Haeger (214), Aleshia Ocasio (155) and Delanie Gourley (105) all reached the century mark.
• Delanie Gourley (10-0), Aleshia Ocasio (10-1) and Kelly Barnhill (10-0) are the third trio in three years and third in school history to all record at least 10 wins.
• Ocasio has the best ERA in the nation (0.41) and Barnhill is second in strikeouts per game (11.6).
• The pitching trio of Delanie Gourley, Aleshia Ocasio and Kelly Barnhill has combined to allow the fewest runs in the SEC (28) and record the most strikeouts (267).

 
Setting the Stage: LSU

• Florida and LSU last met at the Women's College World Series on May 29, 2015, when the Gators defeated the Tigers, 4-0.
• The Gators hold a slight 6-4 advantage over the Tigers in the two schools' last 10 meetings, but LSU holds the all-time series lead, 32-24, including a 15-9 mark in Baton Rouge, La.

 
Broadcast Information
The SEC Network+ will broadcast Friday's doubleheader in Baton Rouge, La. And Saturday's contest will be aired on ESPN2. In addition, all three games this weekend can be heard on Florida Sports Talk (WGGG-AM & WMOP-AM/FM and live stats links for the weekend can be found on the Gators' schedule page.
 
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