Florida Gators

 
Game Notes
 
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 1-ranked Gator softball team (45-3/15-3 SEC) travels to Texas A&M (34-14/6-12 SEC) this weekend, as the Gators will play their penultimate SEC series of the regular season. Florida, in first place in the SEC standings, holds a 15-3 mark in conference play for the first time since 2012 when the Gators were 16-2 through 18 league games.
 
With only six games remaining for the Gators in their SEC schedule, Florida's magic number to win its sixth SEC Championship is six. In addition, UF's magic number to secure a top-four seed and a bye in the first round of the SEC Tournament in two weeks is three.
 
This weekend marks another series between ranked opponents for both teams. UF is 17-3 against Top 25 foes, while the Aggies are 7-13 in ranked matchups. Friday and Sunday's contests at Texas A&M will be streamed on SEC Network+, while Saturday's game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
 
Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
 "I was excited about our sweep of Mississippi State last weekend. Sunday night's extra-inning thriller was an exciting way to cap off our eight-game homestand not only for our team, but our fans as well. It was great to see our fans be so energetic over the past two weeks at home, but now we've got another tough SEC road series this weekend."
 
Quick Hits

• UF is ranked No. 1 in both polls, No. 1 in the NCAA RPI and has the fifth-toughest schedule in the NCAA. In addition, Florida has the highest win percentage (.938) in the country.
• Florida has allowed just 47 runs and committed only 20 errors through 48 games. UF's 47 runs allowed through 48 games is the second fewest in school history through this point in any season. Florida's 2009 squad allowed 40 tallies through 48 contests.
• The Gators currently sport the best fielding percentage (.984) and best earned run average (0.85) in the nation. For comparison through 48 games last season, Florida's pitchers had a 1.53 ERA and its defense had committed 27 errors and had a fielding percentage of .978. UF went on to record a .981 fielding percentage and commit just 33 errors, which are both school records.
• UF's astounding 0.85 team ERA (312.2 IP) would go down as the second-best ERA for a single season in program history if the season ended today. In addition, Florida's miniscule .156 batting average against (290.2 IP) would be the best b/avg. for a single season in program history.
• UF's 2008 (0.92 ERA, .176 BAA, 512.0 IP) and 2009 (0.69 ERA, .161 BAA, 444.0 IP) squads currently hold those top marks in program history.
• Delanie Gourley (15-2, 157 K), Kelly Barnhill (14-0, 137 K) and Aleshia Ocasio (16-1, 110 K) are trying to become the first trio in UF history to win at least 15 games each and record 125+ strikeouts in a single season. UF is the only school in the nation with three different pitchers with at least 100 strikeouts in 2016.
• Ocasio (0.65) and Gourley (0.68) have the No. 1 and No. 4 ERAs in the country and Barnhill is fourth in strikeouts per game (10.4). In addition, UF's pitching staff has allowed the fewest runs in the SEC (47) and recorded the most strikeouts (404).
• Florida's opponents have only attempted to steal nine bases against Aubree Munro and UF's catchers this season. That mark would shatter Florida's school record of 25 attempts by opponents that was set in 2015. In addition, UF's stolen-base-against percentage of 33% (3-9) this season would be the lowest in school history if the season ended today. Florida's 2003 team holds UF's top mark as they allowed just 51.7% (31-60) of runners to steal a base safely.
• Offensively, UF is ninth in the country in OBP (.442), 28th in scoring (6.15) and ranks 29th in BA (.320).
• Senior Kelsey Stewart is the NCAA active leader in games played (249), at-bats (862), hits (345), triples (29) and she's third in total bases (493) and fourth in runs scored (247).

 
Setting the Stage: Texas A&M

• Florida leads the all-time series with Texas A&M, 10-3; this includes a 5-2 mark in College Station, Texas.
• After going 2-3 in its first five meetings with the Aggies, UF has won eight-straight games against TAMU.

 
Broadcast Information
Florida travels to Texas A&M for a three-game series in College Station, Texas this weekend at the Aggie Softball Complex. Friday and Sunday's contests against TAMU will be streamed on SEC Network+, while Saturday's game will be broadcast 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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