No. 1 Florida Hosts South Dakota on Wednesday

Wednesday, March 9

Gainesville, FL

4:00 PM

Florida Gators

South Dakota

Both contests on Wednesday will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

No. 1 Florida Hosts South Dakota on Wednesday

Tuesday, March 8, 2016 | Softball

This is the Gators’ final tuneup before UF opens Southeastern Conference play on Saturday at Auburn.

By: WIll Pantages

Game Notes

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 1-ranked Florida Softball team (22-0) finishes its eight-game homestand this weekend with a doubleheader on Wednesday night against South Dakota. This is the Gators' final tuneup before UF opens Southeastern Conference play on Saturday at Auburn.

Both contests 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 2-0 in such games this season.

Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
"We've played 22 games already this season, so just like we've done for every other game, I want our team to be well prepared and do a good job of focusing on the Gators. I don't want us concerning ourselves with who our opponent is. We just need to do what we do, and continue to do what we do well."

Quick Hits

Florida's 22-0 record ties for the third-best start to a season in school history. UF began the 2011 season 24-0 and the 2015 season 28-0.
The Gators have won their first 22 games by a combined margin of 153-13, including 12 shutouts and 11 mercy-rule victories.
UF enters this week as one of two teams (UT Arlington, 18-0) in NCAA Division I softball who are undefeated.
Although UF's offense is averaging 6.95 runs per game, which ranks 17th in the country, its Florida's pitching and defense that have carried the torch thus far in 2016. Florida has allowed just 13 runs and committed only nine errors through 22 games.
The Gators currently sport the third-best fielding percentage (.983) and the top earned run average in the nation (0.63). For comparison through 22 games last season, Florida had committed 17 errors and had a fielding percentage of .969. UF went on to record its best fielding percentage (.981) and committed just 33 errors which were both school records.
Florida has not committed an error in seven consecutive innings entering Wednesday's doubleheader. UF's error against NC State two weeks ago snapped its longest streak of the season, 72 innings.
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 (.497), 17th in scoring (6.95) and 11th in batting average (.367).
Florida's top three hitters Amanda Lorenz (28), Janell Wheaton (24) and Kayli Kvistad (16) have combined for as many hits (68) this season as the number of hits (68) the Gator pitching staff has allowed.
In addition to leading UF in all these categories, Amanda Lorenz ranks 40th in BA (.483), seventh in walks (23), 21st in runs (28) and 12th in OBP (.630) in the nation.
Janell Wheaton is hitting .448 (13 for 29) over the past two weeks with three home runs, one triple, 13 RBI and five runs scored. At the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic two weeks ago, Wheaton hit two homers against No. 8 Washington to propel the UF to a 3-1 win. Both were solo shots in the fourth and sixth innings, with the first tying the game and the second giving UF a 2-1 lead.
Kelsey Stewart is the NCAA active leader in career hits (315) by more than 60 tallies.
UF hitters have struck out 57 times on the year; each of the Gators' three pitchers has 59+ strikeouts
(Delanie Gourley - 65, Kelly Barnhill - 61, Aleshia Ocasio - 59).
Ocasio has the third-best ERA in the nation (0.41) and Gourley is eighth in the strikeouts per game (10.7).

Setting the Stage: South Dakota

Wednesday's doubleheader will mark the first contests between South Dakota and Florida.
Florida has played three opponents this season that UF has never played in the past, including Elon, Stephen F. Austin and Omaha. The Gators defeated those three teams by a combined score of 18-3.

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). Joel Sebastianelli will have the call on Wednesday, with former Gator All-American Megan Bush providing analysis.

Live Stats
Live stats links for the weekend can be found on the Gators' schedule page.

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