The Gators lead the SEC with a 13-1 mark in conference play.
No. 3 Gators Take To The Road For SEC Series
Friday, April 14, 2017 | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – After a four game home stand, the University of Florida softball team hits the road for a SEC series against Kentucky at John Cropp Stadium. The first game of the series, slated for 6 p.m. Friday will be the first time the two programs will have met since the 2015 season.
Fan can view this weekend's series on the SEC Network + via WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app. There is also an option for fans to listen live locally on WGGG (92.1 FM/1230 AM) & WMOP (100.1 FM/900 AM) as Daniel Gillman and Kelsey Horton will have the call.
Gator Notables
- Kelly Barnhill was tabbed as this week's SEC Pitcher of the Week. Barnhill picked up second SEC Pitcher of the Week award after a pair of sensational performances against Georgia this past weekend. The Marietta, Ga. capped the series with a 14 strikeout performance which was a season-high for the Bulldogs.
- The Gators rank inside the top 10 of four national statistical categories entering this week: ERA (0.70 – 1st), fielding percentage (0.986 – 1st), on base percentage (0.443 – 5th) and win-loss percentage (0.950 – 2nd).
- A pair of Gators lead the nation in three different statistical categories:
- Kelly Barnhill – ERA (0.22) & strikeouts per seven innings (12.7)
- Kayli Kvistad – Walks (1.18 per game)
- Barnhill is the nation's leader with a 0.22 ERA but Gourley (0.79 – 8th) & Aleshia Ocasio (0.84 – 10th) both rank inside the top 10. Florida is the only school in the country to have three pitchers ranked inside the Top 10 in ERA. Arizona is the only other school to have multiple pitchers ranked inside the top 10.
- Amanda Lorenz is still riding her 40-game reached base safely streak. The 2016 NFCA Third-Team All-American extended her streak a trio of multi-hit performances against North Florida (4/6) and Georgia (4/8 & 4/9). In the final game of the series Lorenz did not record a hit but did draw a walk to keep the streak alive and she also drew a walk against No. 1 Florida State in her last at-bat Wednesday.
- This past weekend Florida swept No. 19/18 Georgia at home to improve to 13-1 in SEC play and 15-2 in road contests this season. The three-game series sweep is the third three-game sweep over a SEC opponent this season.
- The Gators are 15-1 this season when facing ranked opponents with their lone loss against Auburn by 1-0 decision Monday, March 27. This stretch includes nine shutouts and 14 games where Florida has held ranked opponents to one run or less. The last win came on Wednesday against No. 1/2 Florida state at home in front of a record crowd.
All-Time Series
Florida and Kentucky have not met in the diamond since the 2015 season and the Gators hold the all-time series lead over the Wildcats 47-13 with a 21-7 mark at John Cropp Stadium.
The last time the two programs squared off in Lexington, Florida took the series 2-1 (7-4, 2-4 & 6-3) during the 2013 season and since the 4-2 loss has won the last six meetings.
2015 Series Recap
April 11, 2015 | The No. 3-ranked University of Florida softball team defeated No. 13 Kentucky, 1-0, on Saturday at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in front of the largest home crowd in program history. Gator senior Lauren Haeger won a pitchers' duel, allowing just two hits and one walk with four strikeouts over seven innings to run her season-opening win streak to 18 games.
# 13 KENTUCKY (27-12 / 4-9) -VS- # 3 FLORIDA (38-4 / 9-4)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Florida | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 1 | 3 | 0 |
W: Lauren Haeger (18-0); L: Nunley,K (11-8)
Game Details
DATE | 4/11/2015 START | 4:05 p.m. TIME | 1:30
ATTENDANCE | 2,488 SITE | Gainesville, Fla. (KSP Stadium)
April 12, 2015 | The No. 3-ranked University of Florida softball team won its fourth consecutive Southeastern Conference series on Sunday with a 6-3 victory over No. 13 Kentucky at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Senior Lauren Haeger tied the Florida and SEC career home run records with her three-run blast during the Gators' six-run fourth inning. Aleshia Ocasio earned the win after allowing three earned runs on three hits over six innings, improving her record to 13-3 on the season.
# 13 KENTUCKY (27-13 / 4-10) -VS- # 3 FLORIDA (39-4 / 10-4)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 8 | 0 |
W: Aleshia Ocasio (13-3) L: Prince,M (11-5)
S: Delanie Gourley (1)
Game Details
DATE | 4/12/2015 START | 3:05 p.m. TIME | 1:51
ATTENDANCE | 1,149 SITE | Gainesville, Fla. (KSP Stadium)
April 13, 2015 | The No. 3-ranked University of Florida softball team completed a series sweep of No. 13 Kentucky on Monday night, winning 2-0 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Following a 17-minute rain delay, the Gators scored once in the first and once in the fifth to take the three-game set from the Wildcats.
# 13 KENTUCKY (27-14 / 4-11) -VS- # 3 FLORIDA (40-4 / 11-4)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Florida | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | X | 2 | 6 | 0 |
W: Lauren Haeger (19-0) L: Nunley,K (11-9)
Game Details
DATE | 4/13/2015 START | 7:19 pm TIME | 1:52
ATTENDANCE | 804 SITE | Gainesville, Fla. (KSP Stadium)
Wildcat Notables
- The team is ninth in the SEC for batting. They have a team average of .288 with 930 at bats (the least in the conference), 137 runs (the least in the conference) and 268 hits (least in the conference). As a team they have 26 home runs and slugging percentage of .419.
- As a team the Wildcats are eighth for pitching. They have a team ERA of 2.05, have allowed 188 hits and 91 runs.
- This past weekend, Kentucky tied a season high of four errors in the first game against Tennessee.
- Bailey Vick is the team's overall leading hitter. She has a .360 batting average on the season. During the 36 games, she has had 86 at bats, nine runs and 31 hits. In SEC play Vick has a .296 batting average. In the 12 conference games, she has 32 at bats, four runs and 10 hits.
- Meagan Prince is the team's leading pitcher. She has a 1.50 ERA and has allowed 90 hits and 35 runs. In SEC play, she has an ERA of 2.18 allowing 45 hits and 21 runs.
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