Florida Gators

 
Game Notes
 
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 1-ranked Gator Softball team (38-3) hosts No. 5 Louisiana-Lafayette (32-3) in a non-conference three-game series this weekend at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium during a bye week in SEC play. Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's series finale will all be streamed on SEC Network+.
 
UF and ULL will be meeting on the field for the first time since the 2008 Women's College World Series when the Ragin' Cajuns defeated the Gators in extra innings in Florida's first-ever contest at the WCWS.
 
The three-game series in Gainesville features one of the nation's top offenses (ULL, NCAA-leading 77 HR) and one of the nation's top pitching staffs (Florida, NCAA-leading 0.85 ERA).
 
Florida is unbeaten in 26 non-conference games this season and has won 117 of 119 non-league games dating to the start of 2013.
 
UF entered this week ranked No. 1 in the country after dropping to No. 2 last week for the first time since April 7, 2015. This weekend's series continues an eight-game homestand for the Orange and Blue as the Gators host USF and Mississippi State next week.
 
Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
 "This weekend's series with ULL is a good out-of-conference challenge for us. Louisiana-Lafayette is the best home-run hitting team in the country and that hides the fact that they are a top-10 team in terms of batting average and earned run average. This will be a great challenge for our team as this will have the feel of an NCAA Super Regional. I'm excited to see our fans come out and support us this weekend as it will be a lot of the fun softball to watch."
 
Quick Hits

• UF is ranked No. 1 in both polls, No. 1 in the NCAA RPI and has the 10th toughest schedule in the NCAA.
• UF holds the highest win percentage (.927) in the country and is in first place in the SEC with a 12-3 mark.
• Florida has an overall scoring margin of 245-41, including 20 shutouts and 14 mercy-rule victories.
• Although UF's offense is averaging 5.98 runs per game, which ranks 31st in the country, it's Florida's pitching and defense that have carried the torch thus far in 2016. Florida has allowed just 41 runs and committed only 19 errors through 41 games. UF's 41 runs allowed through 41 games is the second fewest in school history through this point in any season. Florida's 2009 squad allowed 37 tallies through 41 contests.
• The Gators currently sport the best fielding percentage (.982) and best earned run average (0.85) in the nation. For comparison through 41 games last season, Florida's pitchers had a 1.55 ERA and its defense had committed 27 errors and had a fielding percentage of .974. UF went on to record a .981 fielding percentage and commit just 33 errors, which were both school records.
• The Gators have allowed just three stolen bases this season, which is the fewest in the SEC. In addition, three stolen bases are the fewest Florida has allowed in school history through 41 games.
• Offensively, UF is ninth in the country in OBP (.448), 31st in scoring (5.98) and ranks 31st in BA (.321).
• Amanda Lorenz is hitting .452 (14 for 31) over UF's last 10 games with two homers, two doubles, nine RBI and four runs scored.
• Kelsey Stewart is the NCAA active leader in games played (242), at bats (835), hits (336), triples (29) and she's third in runs scored (241) and total bases (480).
• Delanie Gourley and Kelly Barnhill have crossed the century mark for strikeouts. Meanwhile, Ocasio is closing in on it. (Kelly Barnhill - 128, Delanie Gourley - 122, Aleshia Ocasio - 97). 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.
• Ocasio (0.45) and Gourley (0.78) have the No. 1 and No. 3 ERAs in the country and Barnhill is fourth in strikeouts per game (11.0). In addition, UF's pitching staff has combined to allow the fewest runs in the SEC (41) and record the most strikeouts (347).

 
Setting the Stage: Louisiana-Lafayette

• Saturday's game will be these two teams' first-ever meeting in Gainesville, as the only prior meeting on either school's campus came in February, 2002, at Lamson Park in Lafayette.
• In addition to this being the first-ever meeting in a three-game weekend series, UF and ULL last met in May 2008 at the WCWS in Oklahoma City when the Ragin Cajuns won 3-2 in eight innings.
• ULL has won all four previous meetings contested prior to this weekend's series.

 
UF vs. ULL Promotions
Saturday:

• Fun in the Sun Day
  • First 250 Fans will receive a mini-bottle of sunscreen
• Post-Game Autographs
  • Select Gators will sign autographs following game two of the doubleheader

 
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. 5 ULL this weekend at KSP Stadium. All three games will be broadcast online on SEC Network+. 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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