HIGHLIGHTS | PRESS CONFERENCE

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The University of Florida softball team earned its eighth berth to the Women's College World Series on Saturday after winning the final game of its best-of-three NCAA Super Regional against Alabama. UF finished off the series with a 2-1 win over the Crimson Tide in front of a charged-up crowd (2,216) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sophomore Amanda Lorenz paced the Gators (55-8) all weekend as she went 5-for-8 (.625) with two runs scored, two RBIs, one home run and three walks.

Lorenz, from Moorpark, Calif., wasted no time on Saturday as she led off the Florida half of the first inning with a single to left.

After Kayli Kvistad walked to move Lorenz over to second, Aleshia Ocasio recorded an RBI single up the middle. The Gators were able to scratch one more run across after Janell Wheaton was walked to load the bases and freshman Jordan Roberts was hit by a pitch.

Undaunted, Alabama (47-17) bounced back in the top of the second and cut the Gators lead to 2-1 via a two-out triple from Rachel Bobo and an RBI single by Elissa Brown.

Pitching and defense ruled the remainder of the game, as sophomore Kelly Barnhill (24-3) retired 16 of the final 17 hitters she faced. For the game, Barnhill allowed just two hits, one run (earned) and one walk, while striking out 12 Crimson Tide hitters.

Barnhill's counterpart, Alexis Osorio, was just as impressive after the first inning as she retired 15 of the following 19 Gators she faced. In addition, Florida did not have a base runner in scoring position following the first inning.

For the game, Osorio allowed just three hits, two runs (both earned) and recorded eight strikeouts.

Florida will open play Thursday at the WCWS against either Tennessee or Texas A&M. Check FloridaGators.com for broadcast information and more information.

Coaches Corner
Opening Statement:
"First of all, congratulations to Alabama on a really fine season. The pitching staff and team overall – everyone just competed really well. I don't know that I can say anything other than I'm just really proud. Kelly (Barnhill) pitched a great game. Aleshia (Ocasio) got some good hits this tournament, and we're really happy for that as well. I thought Aleshia's innings on Thursday night were very important to our success for a three-game series, not a one-game series. I'm really happy with the way she competed and gave us a chance. Delanie's (Gourley) up here, and the reason she's up here – you all know she didn't pitch today – we wouldn't be very good without Delanie Gourley, and I think everybody can agree to that. She's been such a great competitor and a great leader and the face of Florida softball. I'm just proud of our three pitchers up here. Kelly doesn't have an All-American in front of her name yet, but she will next week. I'm really proud of our pitchers and proud of our pitching coach and our pitching staff. We didn't play the greatest defense we've played all year long, but I thought we really stepped up, found a way to score some runs early in the game and really changed the momentum of what a third game can be. We have a lot of work to do to figure out how to win games in Oklahoma City, but there are a lot worse problems. I'm proud of these guys for getting us through to the College World Series again." – Tim Walton
 
On Florida's growth as a program and reaching Oklahoma City eight times since 2008:
"I just looked up in the stands from the field, and just to look out there and see all those people… This is the most expensive super regional we've ever had. The prices were high, and the people were coming out. That's a special moment for a coach to have that many people care about the progress we've made as a program. It's not Tim Walton, it's not this team, it's the program that we've really built and the players that have taken the time to be fun to watch and to be good citizens, great teammates and great people. That to me is a big deal. I'm really proud of those people for standing there and cheering. That's what I told our team. I said, I have nothing to say. Just go cheer with the fans because they deserve it and they did a great job." – Tim Walton
 
From the Players
Sophomore RHP Kelly Barnhill
On closing out the game to send Florida to OKC:
"The seventh inning's always exciting. It's when we have to go through and just finish the ball game. You've got to finish strong every single time, and every single pitch matters and you can't let up, especially facing a great team like Alabama."
 
On the final out:
"It was amazing to be able to get that out and then have everyone out there celebrating together because we're all so excited to go to OKC. For some of us, it's the first time, and for some of us, it's going to be the last time. It's an amazing feeling to be able to be a contributor to help our team get there."
 
Junior UTL Aleshia Ocasio
On her game-winning RBI off Alabama standout Alexis Osorio:
"I thought we were making solid contact. Obviously, we didn't come out with more hits the first game of the series, but I felt relaxed. We had runners in scoring position with a couple outs, but she threw a pitch over the plate, and I took a chance and swung at it."
 
Senior LHP Delanie Gourley
On returning to Oklahoma City:
"I'm really excited. We had this feeling today. When we came out, we knew what was going to happen. The way that we could just come out and do it, it was amazing. It's Kelly's first time, so it's going to be really fun. I'm just happy to experience it with players like Kelly and other players who haven't been there yet because it's an amazing experience."
 
On watching Kelly today:
"First of all, I didn't even stop talking in the dugout. The last two or three innings, every single pitch she was throwing, I was just standing there and I was like, oh my gosh, she's doing it. We're doing it. We're going. You have that feeling when our staff is this close. It was awesome. I love that we can all support each other no matter who's throwing. It's really special."
 
On starting and ending her Florida career at the Women's College World Series:
"That's special too. It's really hard to do, and luckily this is the type of program that gets to do that often. I'm just grateful and thankful that I got to come here and play."

Tournament Notes

• Florida advances to the Women's College World Series for the eighth time in program history and the first time since 2015.
• The program now holds a 2-1 record when having to play a game three in Super Regional action.
  • 2014 vs. Washington
    • Won the series, 2-1 (W, 9-0; L, 3-4 & W, 8-0), and advanced to the WCWS. Eventually went on to win the program's first NCAA National Championship.
  • 2007 at Texas A&M
    • Lost the series 1-2 (L, 2-0; W, 3-2 & L, 2-0)
• The Gators improved to 17-6 all-time in Super Regional play with today's win over Alabama.
  • The team is 5-2 overall in the NCAA Tournament this season and has won three-straight elimination games. Oklahoma State (5/21), Alabama (5/26) and Alabama (5/27).
• The Gators now hold a 7-1 record against Alabama in NCAA Tournament play.

 
Program Notes

• In the month of May, the team now holds a record of 9-4 this season and an overall record of 154-71.
• Florida's 12 strikeouts today is the 33^rd time this season the team has produced 10 or more strikeouts in a game and the fifth time in this year's NCAA Tournament.

Individual Notes

• Kelly Barnhill hurled her 18^th game of the season with 10 or more strikeouts.
  • She also struck out the side two times tonight, which brings her season total to 48.
• Amanda Lorenz finished Super Regional play 5-for-8 at the plate after a 1-for-2 performance today with a run scored and a walk.
• Freshman Jordan Roberts recorded her first career postseason RBI with a hit by pitch in the first inning.