Florida Gators

 
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The University of Florida softball team fell to Auburn, 2-1, on Friday in the Southeastern Conference Tournament semifinals at Nusz Park. Both teams began the day averaging more than six runs per game for the season, but the contest turned into a pitchers' duel as the Gators and Tigers combined for three runs and 11 hits.
 
UF (53-5) surrendered a pair of runs to Auburn (48-9) in the top of the first inning when AU's Carlee Wallace recorded two-out, two-run home run.
 
Rookie Kelly Barnhill (15-1) started and threw just two innings and allowed just those two runs on five hits, while recording one strikeout. Junior Delanie Gourley relieved Barnhill in the third and allowed just one hit in five shutout innings.
 
Florida missed an opportunity to score in the sixth when the Kelsey Stewart recorded an infield single and freshman Amanda Lorenz followed with a double into center to give Florida runners on second and third with no one out.
 
After Kayli Kvistad grounded out to first, Kirsti Merritt hit into an inning ending double play.
 
The Gators scored their lone run of the contest in the bottom of the seventh inning when Nicole DeWitt scored from second base on an Aleshia Ocasio single and an Auburn miscue.
 
Auburn's Kaylee Carlson improved to 15-1 the circle as she allowed just five hits and recorded two strikeouts.
 
Team Notes

• The Orange and Blue now are 24-26 all-time in the SEC Tournament.
• Friday's game was broadcast on ESPNU. Florida is now 11-2 in contests that broadcast on national television.
• Florida is now 21-5 against Top 25-ranked teams.

 
Stat Watch

• UF has now outscored its opponents this season, 352-62.
  • In 2015, UF had a plus-295 run differential (409-114) through 58 games.
  • In 2014, UF had a plus-279 run differential (404-125) through 58 games.
• Florida's 62 runs allowed through 58 games is the second fewest in school history through this point in any season.
  • UF's 2009 squad allowed 49 tallies through 58 contests and Florida's last two NCAA Championship teams had allowed more than 110 runs each, respectively.
• The Gators have made just 25 errors this season and currently sport one of the best fielding percentages (.984) and earned run averages in the nation (0.90). For comparison, Florida set school records last season with a .981 fielding percentage and just 33 errors committed.
• Florida recorded its 28th double play of the season in the first inning.
  • UF's 2016 squad has tied its program record 28 that it turned during the 2014 season.

 
Pitching Notes

• Florida's pitching trio has combined to allow just 62 runs, while they have totaled 500 strikeouts. Both of those numbers lead the SEC.
  • Only two teams in Florida history have ever allowed less than 100 runs in a single season. UF's 2009 squad allowed just 67 runs and its 2008 team allowed 94 tallies.
  • Florida's 500 strikeouts currently ranks second all-time in program history for strikeouts in a single season.

 
Hitting Note

• Amanda Lorenz recorded her team-leading 14^th double of the season in the sixth inning on Friday.

 
Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
On Florida's pitching and defense…
"We pitched well the last two games. Playing in a single elimination format, I thought Kelly (Barnhill), Aleshia (Ocasio) and Delanie (Gourley) all threw the ball well this weekend. Defensively, we made some nice plays and did a good job.
 
On Florida's offense…
"Offensively, we just need to be aggressive. We swung the bat passively and didn't spray the ball around the field. We have to hit the ball to right field as much as we do to left. We have to be able to hit the ball and be as productive as we can. I didn't think we had very many productive outs, as we didn't swing the bat with authority."
 
Series History

• Florida is now 5-2 against Auburn in the SEC Tournament.
  • These two schools last met on May 12, 2011 in Oxford, Miss.
• UF holds a 38-20 edge on AU in the two schools' all-time series.

 
Next Up
Florida will find out its NCAA Tournament seed and Regional site and opponents on Sunday, when the tournament field will be announced at 10 p.m. ET on ESPNU. 
 
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