Box Score | Recap |Highlights

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior pitcher Delanie Gourley hurled a two-hit shutout to help propel the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators to a 3-0 victory over No. 18 Ole Miss (31-14, 6-10 SEC) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The win clinched the program's 11^th-straight SEC series victory.

The Gators wore accents of yellow in their uniform in support of those battling with pediatric cancer.

Gourley was strong in the circle for the duration of the contest, as she didn't allow a base runner until the third inning on a strikeout wild pitch to Kaylee Horton. The talented lefty relinquished the first hit to the Rebels in the sixth to Horton.

At the plate, Florida (43-3, 17-3 SEC) scored two runs in the second inning to jump out in front. It started when Nicole DeWitt ripped an RBI single up the middle to score freshman Jaimie Hoover. Hoover reached earlier in the inning with her fifth double of the season.

Kayli Kvistad drove in sophomore Amanda Lorenz later in the inning on an RBI single to center field. Kvistad finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk. The walk that occurred in the sixth inning happened to be her 50^th of the season, which broke the Florida single-season record set by Aja Paculba in 2009 and tied by Lauren Haeger in 2015.

So far this season the Gators have outscored opponents 48-1 in the second inning alone.

Lorenz, who finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored, provided more separation in the fourth inning thanks to her eighth home run of the season.

Ole Miss had a chance to avoid the shut out in the sixth with Horton's leadoff triple. The Florida defense and Gourley buckled down to preserve the score as she struck out Kylan Becker looking on a full-count to end the inning.

The Gators return to action for the series finale at noon tomorrow. The game can be viewed live on the SEC Network.
 
Coaches Corner
Overall thoughts on today's game...
"I thought Delanie pitched a really good game for us and our offense did a good job. We were able to hit the ball to all parts of the field but I thought we swung the bats well. Just like last night, we have to find the ability to get hits with two outs and get hits with runners in scoring position. I think if we can find any room for improvement it would be that. That's the hardest part of this game – hitting with runners in scoring position because when you do get runners in scoring position typically you get setup forces and a lot easier outs. So, there's more to it than saying 'just get a hit' but we'll keep saying it." – Tim Walton

From the Players
On the significance of the Yellow Game and why the team wears sunflowers every saturday... 
"It hits us in the heart you know. So my senior class, we were the last class that got to meet Heather (Braswell). So we knew her for a little bit and she was so amazing, her family was amazing. She herself left her mark on this program. The fact that we can bring her spirit and everything to life every Saturday with the sunflower and just represent her and every other kid going through hard times. For us to be able to stand up for them, it means a lot." – Delanie Gourley
 
Notables

• Kayli Kvistad set the new single-season record for walks after she drew her 50^th of the season in the sixth inning against Ole Miss.
  • The mark breaks Aja Paculba's record that was set in 2009 and Lauren Haegar tied in 2015.
• Today's attendance 2,209 marks the fourth time this season that Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium has hosted a crowd of more than 2,000. The Gators rank fourth in the nation in average attendance with a figure of 1,642 people over a span of 21 games.
  • Auburn (3/25) – 2,338
  • Georgia (4/8) – 2,407 – Stadium Record
  • Florida State (4/12) – 2,547 – Stadium Record
  • Ole Miss (4/22) – 2,209
• The Gators have won their last 11 SEC series after today's series clinching win over the Rebels.
  • The last time Florida dropped an SEC series was on April 3, against Alabama at home.
• Today's shutout is the 28^th of the season for Florida and is a mark that currently leads the nation.
  • It was also Delanie Gourley's eighth shutout of the season.
• Gourley posted her sixth game of the season with 10 or more strikeouts.
• The NCAA DI Softball Championship Sport Committee announced its first Top 10 ranking of the season and the Gators checked in at the No. 1 ranking.

 
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