Florida Gators

TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 2 University of Florida softball team opened the 2018 season with a 9-0 victory over Illinois State Friday afternoon at the USF Softball Stadium.

Senior Aleshia Ocasio combined with sophomore Katie Chronister and junior Kelly Barnhill in the circle to hurl the program's 23^rd combined one-hitter. The last time the Gators achieved the feat was Feb. 26, 2017 against Lehigh at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic.

That was accomplished by the duo of Barnhill and former Gator Delanie Gourley.

Ocasio was in complete control against the Redbirds throughout her five innings of work. The 2016 NFCA All-American was perfect as she didn't allow a single runner to reach base and went on to finish her night with eight strikeouts over 63 total pitches.

Offensively, Florida cranked out four doubles, two triples and a home run in route to the victory.

The scoring for the Gators started in the second inning. Sophia Reynoso singled through the left side of the Illinois State defense, while sophomore Jaimie Hoover followed up with a sacrifice fly to right field that plated junior Alex Voss for a 2-0 lead.

Reynoso ended the game with a very productive 3-for-3 performance at the plate with a pair of RBI and a run scored.

Florida went on to score one run in the fourth on a double from freshman Hannah Adams. The Hoschton, Ga. native ripped her first collegiate hit to the gap in left center field to score Voss which extended the UF lead to 3-0.

Amanda Lorenz pushed the Gators lead out to 4-0 via a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed senior Nicole DeWitt to streak home from third base. DeWitt put herself into scoring position via a one-out triple to the gap in left center.

Lorenz capped her night with a pair of hits in three at-bats with an RBI, a run and a walk.

The Gators saved the best for the final inning of play. Four consecutive extra-base hits to start the frame, highlighted by a three-run home run from freshman Jordan Matthews, resulted in a four-run inning. Roberts produced an RBI-double to score Ocasio to start the big inning.

The Gators return to action Saturday morning with a pair of games against No. 18 Michigan (11 a.m.) and Georgia State (1:15 p.m.).

Walton's Words
On the team's performance for the first game of the season…
"I thought we played well. The pitching staff did a really good job, Aleshia Ocasio set the tempo for us – especially after the first inning. I think we had three quick ground ball outs and then she started striking people out – her stuff really improved as the game went on."

On Ocasio's five perfect innings …
"Let us get a little deeper into the season and we'll let her finish that game (in the circle). I think that is something that is worthy of recognition and noteworthy as well but it's early in the season and we have a lot of games ahead of us in the next three weeks. So, I don't want to just go out there and pitch for those awards so to speak. I rather us be fresh, healthy and be able to continue this long ride through the season."

On the impact of freshmen Hannah Adams and Jordan Matthews in their first collegiate game…
"Hannah Adams obviously led off for us tonight. She hit a hard ground ball in her first at-bat, then a nice walk later on to get our offense going for us and then got her first extra-base hit.  Then Jordan Matthews comes off the bench and does the same thing.  She's a kid that didn't play the whole entire fall for us and finally got released (to play) after Christmas break. Jordan was out there playing a new position and looked good. She had two at-bats where she took a hack, hit hard line drive to third, and then hit a three-run home run."

"I have to be honest, I've recruited Jordan for such a long time and have known her family for a long time too. That just has to be a special moment to finally see her play college softball, and for her to get a home run in her first collegiate game is pretty special."
 
Notable Notes

• Florida improves to 33-5 overall with its 14^th consecutive opening day win.
  • It's also the second consecutive opening day one-hitter victory against Illinois State.
• Florida produced its 23^rd combined one-hitter in program history behind the performances of Aleshia Ocasio, Katie Chronister and Kelly Barnhill.
  • The last time the Gators threw a combined one-hitter was Feb. 26, 2017 against Lehigh at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic.
  • It's only the second time in program history that three pitchers combined for a one-hitter.
• Freshman Jordan Matthews tallied her first career collegiate hit in the seventh inning.
  • The three run home run pushed the Gators lead out to 9-0.
• Freshman Hannah Adams received her first career start as she led off and played second base for the entire game.
  • Adams recorded her first collegiate hit in the fourth via an RBI double to left center.