UF is 26-9 all-time against its three weekend foes (0-0 vs. Alabama State, 8-5 vs. Florida Atlantic, 18-4 vs. UCF).
No. 1 Gators Host Gainesville Regional to Open NCAA Tournament
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 | Softball
The Gators are 69-33 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including a 32-18 record in Regionals.
Florida Game Notes | NCAA Tournament Bracket | Gainesville Regional Information | UF's NCAA Regional Digital Guide
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The top-seeded and Southeastern Conference champion Florida Softball team will host an NCAA Regional this weekend at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. This weekend marks the 14th consecutive season that UF has hosted on the NCAA Tournament's first weekend, and the fourth time that the Gators have been seeded No. 1 overall (also: 2008, 2009, 2015).
Florida's four No. 1 overall seeds have come in the NCAA Super Regional era (2005), meanwhile no other team has accomplished that feat more than once. In addition, this year marks the Gators' ninth consecutive season boasting a top-five national seed.
The Gators are 69-33 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including a 32-18 record in Regionals. During Tim Walton's tenure as head coach, UF is 64-21 in NCAA play and 27-6 in Regionals.
Overall this season, Florida is 53-5 (20-4 SEC), while Friday's opponent Alabama State has a 27-25 (16-3 SWAC) record. Meanwhile, UCF enters the tournament at 36-20 (12-4 The American) and Florida Atlantic is 50-7 (22-2 C-USA). FAU is the only other team in the country with 50 wins this season other than the Gators.
UF remains No. 1 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index, released Monday by the NCAA. The Gators are one of three Southeastern Conference teams in the index's top 10. Florida Atlantic checks in at No. 23, while UCF is 33rd and Alabama State is No. 238.
The Gators are 20-5 (.800) against top-25 opponents this season, tops in the SEC, own eight come-from-behind wins – four in SEC play – and are 3-0 in extra-inning games in 2016. Florida owns 28 shutouts and 19 mercy-rule victories. In addition, UF is 22-5 versus current 1-25 RPI opponents and 10-0 against opponents ranked 26-50 in the RPI rankings.
The Orange and Blue defeated UCF back on April 6 in Orlando but did not face any of either Alabama State or Florida Atlantic during the 2016 regular season. UF is 26-9 all-time against its three weekend foes (0-0 vs. Alabama State, 8-5 vs. Florida Atlantic, 18-4 vs. UCF).
Florida has won its regional eight times since 2007, including a perfect 3-0 record on six occasions (2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2015). The Gators had not advanced out of Regionals prior to Head Coach Tim Walton's arrival before the 2006 season.
Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
"Our crowd will be very important this weekend. Playing at home is important, as our fans are very important to us and our opponent. I tell our team all the time, when the crowd gets going and everyone is doing the Gator Chomp, this place turns into a really cool environment and a tough place for our opponents to play. I'm hoping our fans bring their "a-game" this weekend, as we will do our best on the field to be fun to watch and match their level of intensity."
Quick Hits
- UF is ranked No. 1 in both polls, No. 1 in the NCAA RPI and has the seventh-toughest schedule in the NCAA.
- Florida has allowed just 62 runs and committed only 25 errors through 58 games. UF's 62 runs allowed through 58 games is the second fewest in school history through this point in any season. Florida's 2009 squad allowed 49 tallies through 58 contests.
- The Gators currently sport the second-best fielding percentage (.984) and best earned run average (0.90) in the nation. For comparison through 58 games last season, Florida's pitchers had a 1.77 ERA and its defense had committed 29 errors and had a fielding percentage of .981. UF went on to record a .981 fielding percentage and commit just 33 errors, which are both school records.
- UF's astounding 0.90 team ERA (381.2 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 (381.2 IP) would be the top b/avg. for a single season in program history.
- Delanie Gourley (18-3, 206 K), Kelly Barnhill (15-1, 164 K) and Aleshia Ocasio (20-1, 130 K) are 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 (0.70) and Gourley (0.73) have the No. 1 and No. 2 ERAs in the country and Barnhill is 11th with a 1.37 earned run average. Historically, UF is trying to join its own 2009 squad and South Carolina's 1997 team as the only SEC teams to ever finish a season with two pitchers in the top-five nationally in ERA. In addition, UF has a chance to join FSU's 1993 squad as the only teams to finish a season with three pitchers in the top 10.
- UF's pitching trio leads the SEC with just 62 runs allowed and 500 strikeouts thrown. UF's strikeout total currently ranks second all-time in program history for a single season.
- Florida's opponents have only attempted to steal 11 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 45% (5-11) 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 eighth in the country in OBP (.437), 28th in scoring (6.07) and ranks 41st in BA (.314). The Gators .437 on base percentage would be the top mark in program history if the season ended today.
- Amanda Lorenz (.530), Nicole DeWitt (.520) and Kayli Kvistad (.517) are trying to become the first trio in school history to all have at least a .500 OBP or higher in a single season.
- Senior Kelsey Stewart is the NCAA active leader in games played (259), at-bats (898), hits (355), triples (29) and she's third in total bases (507) and fourth in runs scored (257). In addition, she's one of two active players in the country with 300-plus hits, 200-plus runs and 100-plus stolen bases.
Broadcast Information
The SEC Network will televise Friday's contest between Florida and Alabama State. Florida Sports Talk will have the radio broadcast with Adam Schick (play-by-play) and former Gator Megan Bush (analysis) on the call. In addition, a live stats link will be available on the schedule page on FloridaGators.com.
Schedule of Events (Times EDT)
Friday, May 20
- Game 1 -- UCF (36-20) vs. FAU (50-7), 12 p.m.
- Game 2 – Alabama State (28-25) vs. Florida (53-5), 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 21
- Game 3 -- Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, Noon
- Game 4 -- Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2:30 p.m.
- Game 5 -- Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 22
- Game 6 -- Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, Noon p.m.
- Game 7 (if necessary) -- Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 2:30 p.m.
NCAA Gainesville Regional Ticket Information
- Fans can purchase tickets for reserved seats
- Ticket prices:
- All-Session Pass:
- $25 for adults
- $10 for children 12 & under, seniors (55+) and non-UF college students with proof of college ID
- Single-Session Ticket:
- $10 for adults
- $5 for children 12 & under, seniors (55+) and non-UF college students with proof of college ID
- All-Session Pass:
- All UF students gain free admission with their Gator 1 ID card
- For fans picking up tickets on game day, the purchaser's picture ID is required to pick up tickets.
- For more information, please call the Gator Ticket Office at 352-375-4683
Parking
EZ Event Ride will continue to shuttle fans from their cars to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium for all postseason games. The shuttles will run from the lots west of Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The shuttles, which will seat six-to-eight individuals, will run two hours before, operate during and until KSP Stadium is empty after each game.
As a reminder, due to pedestrian safety concerns, UF Transportation and Parking Services and the University Athletic Association ask that fans do not park on roadways or grass near roadways surrounding Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Any cars parked in these areas will be ticketed.
This service will be provided free of service to all fans.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
In the Polls: NFCA | USA Softball
SEC Champions
FloridaGators.com
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballTim Walton, Korbe Otis, Reagan Walsh, Kendra Falby Postgame Press Conference 5-30-25
Saturday, May 31
Tim Walton, Korbe Otis, Keagan Rothrock Postgame Press Conference 5-29-25
Thursday, May 29
Kendra Falby, Jocelyn Erickson Rawlings Gold Glove Press Conference 5-28-25
Wednesday, May 28
Tim Walton, Kendra Falby, Taylor Shumaker Pre-WCWS Press Conference 5-28-25
Wednesday, May 28
