Florida Gators

Game Notes
Interviews: Walton, Merritt, Munro & Stewart
Chris Harry Feature Story: A Softball Weekend of Elite Teams, Nostalgia, Emotion
 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida continues Southeastern Conference play this weekend with its fourth-straight top-25 opponent and its second home series of the conference season. The No. 1-ranked Gators (33-1/8-1 SEC) host No. 6 Alabama (29-6, 3-3) this weekend at KSP Stadium for a three-game series in Gainesville, Fla.
 
UF enters this weekend looking to open its season with four straight SEC series victories for the first time since 2013.
 
Florida, picked in the preseason to win the SEC, is attempting to win its second-straight SEC regular season crown in 2016, a feat UF last achieved in 2008 and 2009. In addition, either Florida or Alabama has won the SEC regular season championship every season since 2008.
 
The Gators have won four of the past five meetings between these two schools, but Alabama holds the all-time series lead, 33-30, including a 14-10 mark in Gainesville, Fla.
 
Friday and Sunday's contests will be broadcast on SEC Network+ and Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN2. Florida posted a 15-5 record on national television a season ago and is 5-1 this season.
 
Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
On alumnae weekend…
"This was one of those weekends that we put a star by at the beginning of the school year. Not only because it's Alabama, but we're trying to have our alumnae more connected to our program. With this goal in mind, we're starting something new this weekend by bringing our alumnae back in the spring. We've always done something in the fall around football, but we'd like to make it into a spring event and tie it in with softball. In addition, there's no better way than to do it against a program like Alabama. I don't know of a player that's ever come through here and not been excited to play in this series. I'm really looking forward to it."
 
On Saturday's Yellow Game…
"In addition, I'm really excited for pediatric cancer game on Saturday. This is going to bring a smile to so many different faces and it will make more people aware of this issue. Gainesville is a medical community and with what the UF Health Center has with its pediatric ward is really special. We've seen it first hand in the countless times we've spent visiting. Ian Lockwood, who was the first kid we met when we started doing this, was a young high schooler when he passed away. His mother and father are going to be here on Saturday to throw out the first pitch along with Terri Braswell. Terri and Heather Braswell's connection to our program is well-documented. In addition, we're excited to bring back some alumnae that have special connections with both families. It's going to be a fun and eventful weekend."
 
On Alabama…
"Everyone calls this a rivalry, but when I think of rivals, hatred and things like that come to mind. I don't view this as a heated rivalry or a hated one at that. This is a phenomenal rivalry. Who wins this series, not always, usually wins the SEC. I think that has a lot to do with the coaches, but it has more to do with the players. We both have a really talented group of players and have been very consistent in this league for a long time. However, we have not only been successful in this league but representing the SEC at the Women's College World Series. Playing Pat Murphy and his team is a lot of fun because they are always well prepared and will play you tough until the final out of the game.
 
Quick Hits

• Florida's 33-1 mark is the best start in school history. The 8-1 SEC record is the first time that start has been achieved since 2012.
• The Gators have won their first three SEC series for the first time since 2013.
• UF has an overall scoring margin of 220-30, including 19 shutouts and 13 mercy-rule victories. Florida entered this week with the highest win percentage in the country (.971).
• Although UF's offense is averaging 6.47 runs per game, which ranks 24th in the country, its Florida's pitching and defense that have carried the torch thus far in 2016. Florida has allowed just 30 runs and committed only 14 errors through 34 games. UF's 30 runs allowed through 34 games is tied for the second fewest in school history through this point in any season. Florida's 2009 squad allowed 24 tallies through 34 contests.
• The Gators currently sport the second-best fielding percentage (.984) and best earned run average (0.78) in the nation. For comparison through 34 games last season, Florida's pitchers had a 1.44 ERA and its defense had committed 26 errors and had a fielding percentage of .970. UF went on to record a fielding percentage of .981 and commit just 33 errors, both school records.
• The Gators have allowed just three stolen bases this season, which is the fewest in the SEC by eight.
• Offensively, UF is fourth in the country in on-base percentage (.464), 24th in scoring (6.47) and ranks 15th in batting average (.336). Florida's OBP through 34 games is the highest in school history, while its batting average ranks third to UF's 2009 (.339) and 2011 (.354) seasons through 34 contests.
• Kayli Kvistad is hitting .407 (11 for 27) over UF's last 10 games with 2 home runs, 11 RBI and 2 runs scored.
• Kelsey Stewart is the NCAA active leader in career hits (330) by almost 50 tallies.
• Last weekend at LSU, Delanie Gourley and Kelly Barnhill crossed the century mark for strikeouts. Meanwhile, Ocasio is closing in on it. (Kelly Barnhill - 106, Delanie Gourley - 102, Aleshia Ocasio - 83). They are 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), Ocasio (155) and Gourley (105) all reached the century mark.
• Delanie Gourley (10-0), Aleshia Ocasio (12-1) and Kelly Barnhill (11-0) are the third trio in three years and third in school history to all record at least 10 pitching wins.
• Ocasio (0.36) and Gourley (0.78) have No. 1 and No. 3 ERAs in the country and Barnhill is fourth in strikeouts per game (11.1). In addition, UF's pitching staff has combined to allow the fewest runs in the SEC (30) and record the most strikeouts (291).

 
Setting the Stage: Alabama

• Prior to last season's three-game matchup in Tuscaloosa, UF and UA last met in the 2014 Women's College World Series Championship Series when Florida swept Alabama to capture its first NCAA Championship.
• The Gators have won four of the past five meetings between the two schools, but Alabama holds the all-time series lead, 33-30, including a 14-10 mark in Gainesville, Fla.

 
UF vs. Alabama
Friday:

• Pre-game National Anthem Kids Line-Up
  • All kids 12 & under will be able to take the field for the National Anthem prior to the game
• First 500 fans receive a Seat Cushion courtesy of Cox Communications

 
Saturday:

• Pediatric Cancer Game
  • Join us as we help to spread awareness about pediatric cancer in our community
• Alumni Reunion Game
  • Make sure to arrive early for a special presentation of Gators Softball Alumni
• Post-Game Autographs
  • Saturday's are autograph day! The following Gators will be signing autographs following the game:
    • Aubree Munro
    • Kelsey Stewart
    • Taylore Fuller
    • Kirsti Merritt
    • Taylor Schwarz

Sunday:

• Kids Run The Bases
  • All kids 12 & under can run the bases following the game!

 
Broadcast Information
Florida will host a three-game series against No. 6 Alabama this weekend at KSP Stadium. Friday and Sunday's games will be broadcast online on SEC Network+, while Saturday's contest will be broadcast on ESPN2. In addition, all three games can be heard on Florida Sports Talk (WGGG-AM & WMOP-AM/FM) and live stats links for each contest can be found on the Gators' schedule page.
 
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