Florida Gators

Game Notes

Interviews: Walton, Ocasio & Barnhill, Kvistad & DeWitt

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No.4/3-ranked University of Florida softball program will open the 2017 season this Friday, Feb. 10 at the USF Wilson – DeMarini Tournament in Tampa. The team is scheduled to play five games over three days against a bevy of opponents.
 

2017 USF Wilson – DeMarini Tournament Schedule**		Time
2/10	vs. Illinois State	4:15 p.m.
2/11	vs. St. John's	10 a.m.
2/11	vs. No. 6 Michigan	12:30 p.m.
2/12	vs. Delaware	1:30 p.m.
2/12	At No. 25 South Florida	4 p.m.

**Schedule was adjusted due to the effects of Winter Storm Niko on travel for tournament opponents.

This is the fourth consecutive season that the Gators have opened their season in a tournament hosted by the Bulls. Over that span, UF holds a 14-0 record in those tournaments held on opening weekend.

For the Gators, the USF Softball Stadium is not going to be the only familiar sight this weekend. The program faced three of its five upcoming opponents last season at this very same tournament – No. 6 Michigan, No. 25 USF and Illinois State. Last year Florida outscored that particular trio of opponents 38-1 over 21 innings.

2016 USF Tournament  Opponent Results
Illinois State	W, 11-0 (5)
Michigan	W, 8-0 (5)
Virginia Tech	W, 8-0 (6)
USF	W, 11-1 (5)

 
Florida enters the 2017 season as the only program at the NCAA DI level to return four NFCA All-Americans: senior left-handed pitcher Delanie Gourley (first team), junior utility Aleshia Ocasio (first team), junior first baseman Kayli Kvistad (second team) and sophomore outfielder Amanda Lorenz (third team).

NOTABLES:

• The program enters the 2017 season ranked inside the top five of the USA Today/NFCA Coaches' Poll & ESPN.com/USA Softball for the fourth consecutive season.
• For the fourth consecutive season, the Gators were picked by the league's head coaches to win the SEC title. The league office announced the poll results on Wednesday, Jan. 18. The team picked up nine of the 13 available first place votes for a total of 141 points.
• The trio of left-handed pitcher Delanie Gourley, first baseman Kayli Kvistad and outfielder Amanda Lorenz were selected to the 2017 All-SEC Preseason Team. It is the first appearance on the team for all three student-athletes.
• Saturday, Feb. 11, will mark the fourth consecutive year that Michigan and Florida will meet during opening weekend. The Gators have bested the Wolverines the past three meetings in Tampa: 9-4 (8 innings) on Feb. 8, 2014, 2-1 on Feb. 7, 2015 and 8-0 (5 innings) on Feb. 13, 2016.
• Florida graduated five seniors but return a total of 14 letter winners with five position starters (2016 average, HR, RBI) - DP/1B Kayli Kvistad (.370, 11, 60), OF Amanda Lorenz (.403, 8, 48), 2B Nicole DeWitt (.342, 7, 42), C/1B Janell Wheaton (.300, 6, 38) and OF Justine McLean (.361, 0, 9).
• The Gators return all three pitchers from last year's squad in senior LHP Delanie Gourley (0.80), junior UT Aleshia Ocasio (0.77) and sophomore RHP Kelly Barnhill (1.36). The trio led the Gators to the nation's best team ERA (0.93) at the end of the season.
• The UF roster includes four incoming freshmen - LHP/1B Katie Chronister, UT Jamie Hoover, C Jordan Roberts and OF Jacqui Switzer. The squad also includes one redshirt freshman in Sophia Reynoso who missed her true freshman season due to injury.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
The entire 2017 Florida softball season can be listened to live on Florida Sports Talk (WGGG – FM/AM & WMOP – FM/AM). Dan Gillam will have the call from Tampa, with former Gator Great Kelsey Horton.

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