HIGHLIGHTS | PRESS CONFERENCE

OKLAHOMA CITY – The University of Florida softball team secured a spot in the finals of the Women's College World Series with a 5-2 victory over Washington on Sunday at USA Hall of Fame Stadium. The Gators had seven hits on the day, while left-hander Delanie Gourley limited the Huskies to just two.
 
Overall, Florida is now 13-1 at the WCWS since 2014, which is the most wins in the country during that span.
 
Sophomore Kayli Kvistad wasted no time giving Florida the lead on Sunday as she mashed a one-out solo home run in the top of the first inning. The long ball was Kvistad's second in as many at-bats, as she hit one in the seventh inning against LSU on Friday.
 
Florida pushed its lead to four runs in the second, when the Gators scored three times on four hits.
 
Seniors Chelsea Herndon and Justine McLean got things going with a walk and an infield single, respectively. Sophomore Amanda Lorenz continued her impressive NCAA Tournament run with an RBI single up the middle.
 
After a UW miscue moved Lorenz and McLean to second and third, Kvistad drove both of them in with a single to right-center field.
 
UF added its fifth and final tally of the game in the fifth inning when Janell Wheaton recorded her fifth RBI of the College World Series. Nicole DeWitt scored on the play as she reached base on a bunt single and moved into scoring positon via a sacrifice bunt.
 
That cushion was more than enough for Gourley, as she allowed just two hits and one walk while she struck out 10 Huskies.
 
Washington's two runs, both unearned, came with two out in the bottom of the seventh after a Florida error that would have ended the game. UW's next batter, Julia DuPonte, followed with a two-run homer.  
 
Sunday marked Gourley's first career start and fifth appearance in the WCWS. Overall, the Lakeside, Calif., native is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and one save in Oklahoma City, as she has allowed just four hits in 11 innings pitched. In addition to today's win, her other victory came in the Gators' national championship-clinching win in 2014 against Alabama and her save came in Game 1 of the 2015 Championship Series against Michigan.
 
Florida will make its fifth championship series appearance since 2009, which is the most in the country during that span.   
 
QUOTABLES
 
Tim Walton
Opening statement…
"Really proud of our team, just the way we came out the first inning obviously with Kayli Kvistad setting the tone. But again, we hit the ball well. We're a pitching and defense type team, and I thought Delanie Gourley's stuff was as good as I've ever seen her stuff, and it was clear today that she had her A game, which was her first-ever College World Series start, by the way. Bigtime stuff for a big-time kid and big-time player. So really proud of our team and really proud of the effort that they gave today and just their work over the last few days to get it right and to do things right.
 
"Congratulations to Washington. Obviously a great team, and we've battled them many a times here and many a times in general. For us to be able to come out of this one game, really proud of just the overall effort of the whole Gator softball program. So thanks, and just give it to Delanie; what a great job today."
 
Delanie Gourley
On receiving her first start in the Women's College World Series…
"I was really excited. I felt like I kind of did it backwards. My first few appearances were in tight situations in the Championship Series, and so today to come out and just start a game with my team behind my back, I was really excited. We were all really pumped before the game, and we just came out firing and it was really good, so it was a lot of fun."
 
Kayli Kvistad
On what has led the team to a surge in power hitting at the WCWS…
"I think that we just came in here and we really were trying to fight each at-bat and really just try to get the momentum coming our way. My first at-bat today, I went 0-2 the first couple pitches, so just really trying to compete and fight for our team and trying to get on base, and each person is just trying to turn over to the next at-bat, and then we've just turned into a power hitting team lately."
 
NOTABLES

• During Tim Walton's tenure as head coach, UF is 75-25 in NCAA play and 25-12 at the WCWS.
• Amanda Lorenz is now 14-for-28 in NCAA Tournament (.500) with seven RBI
  • In addition, she's 5-for-10 at the College World Series
• Kayli Kvistad is now 10-for 26 in the NCAA Tournament (.385) and has two home runs and five RBI in Oklahoma City.
• Delanie Gourley has not allowed an earned run since April 15 at Kentucky.
  • Set a new career long scoreless inning streak at 31.0 innings. The streak was broken on a two out home run in the bottom of the seventh.
• Florida has scored more runs (20) in three WCWS games than it did in five of seven three-game SEC series this season.
• The Gators recorded their 34^th game of the season of having 10 or more strikeouts in a game.
  • Delanie Gourley struck out 10 Huskies in the complete-game victory. It was the ninth time this season she has struck out 10 or more batters in a game.

 
UP NEXT
Florida will face Oklahoma or Oregon tomorrow night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN for Game 1 of the NCAA WCWS Championship Series. Check FloridaGators.com for broadcast information and more details.
 
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