Since 1997, the Florida softball program has provided countless memorable moments at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)
10 Unforgettable Games at KSP
Monday, June 11, 2018 | Softball, Chris Harry
The Gators have played 662 games at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium over its 21 seasons, but here are 10 for the ages.
Since Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium opened in 1997 for the inaugural University of Florida softball season, more than a half-million people have filed into the ballpark to watch one of the nation's most successful programs play 662 home games and win at better than an 81-percent clip. In 2008, UF went an astounding 39-1 at home on the way to its first Women's College World Series berth. This past season, 10 years later and en route to a ninth trip to Oklahoma City, the Gators were 33-3 at KSP.
An antiquated KSP.
That, folks, is about to change. Big time.
Ground was broken at KSP on Feb. 1, 1996, and construction completed seven months later, well in time for the first fall season. For its era, the stadium was quaint, intimate and state of the art. Two glorious decades — with 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, eight Southeastern Conference championships, nine WCWS trips and two NCAA crowns along the way — have taken a toll on the premises. Mostly in a natural way, but also in an "It's-Time-For-An-Upgrade" way.
This week, a KSP makeover will take over, as cranes, bulldozers and construction workers invade the facility on Hull Road and begin an $11 million renovation project that will have Coach Tim Walton and his Gators in an altogether sparkling and new stadium in time for the 2019 season.
So, as we look forward to the new, it's only fitting to look back on the old. KSP, as we know it, has been good to the Gators and their loyal orange-and-blue clads planted in those aluminum bleachers. Together, they shared some unforgettable moments in the yard.
Here are 10 games worth remembering.
1
MAY 26, 2018
AND A FRESHMAN SHALL LEAD THEM … BACK TO OKC
What happened: With her team down to its final out — and final strike — freshman Jordan Matthews blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence to give the Gators a dramatic 5-3 win over Texas A&M in Game 3 of their Super Regional. Matthews' homer came a half-inning after Aggies slugger Tori Vidales crushed a two-run shot off Aleshia Ocasio that erased UF's 2-1 lead, silenced and stunned the packed crowd at KSP, and sent the Gators into desperation mode in the bottom of the seventh. A couple walks and a couple outs later, Matthews stepped in, worked the count to 2-2, and even fouled off three pitches to up the tension. Matthews barreled up Trinity Harrington's rise ball off the brick scoreboard in left center, sending the place into delirium and the the Gators to the WCWS for the second straight year and ninth time in 11 seasons. "Just trying to keep it simple," Matthews said of her approach at the plate. "Not do anything too big." She failed spectacularly
MAY 24, 2008
OKC-BOUND FOR THE FIRST TIME
What happened: Freshman Megan Bush hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth, as the Gators scored twice in their half of the inning and junior Stacy Nelson finished off California in the bottom of the ninth for a thrilling 4-2 extra-inning win to sweep their Super Regional and clinch the first WCWS trip in program history. Florida, the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, had to fight back after the Bears rallied for a pair of runs to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of sixth, and became just the fourth team in NCAA softball history to win at least 67 games in a season. "What a great day," Gators coach Tim Walton said. "What a great day for all these young ladies that played their hearts out and gave us everything they had. No matter what you have or where you're at, you can't do it without your players. I have to tip my hat to Cal. I thought they did a great job. They are a great program. I think, with our fans, being here at home and having the kids we have on this team, we showed how tough we are. I can't be more proud of this group right now."
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3
MAY 25, 2014
LIGHTNING IGNITES CHAMPIONSHIP RUN
What happened: After losing Game 2 of their Super Regional against Washington earlier in the day, the Gators had a 1-0 lead in the decisive third game when sophomore Kelsey Stewart came to bat. Moments before the Huskies' pitcher went into her windup, a lightning bolt lit up the sky to the north. Stewart didn't see the flash, but got a sense something was up. "I heard the oohs and ahhs," she said. Stewart then then turned those "oohs and ahhs" to primal screams — and lit up the sky, as well — by launching a three-run homer that landed a good 20 feet beyond the right field fence. Washington coach Heather Tarr argued, to no avail, the blast should not have counted because the game should have been stopped due to lightning in the area before the pitch was delivered. Instead, play was halted after the homer. After a 3-hour, 17-minute delay (one of two delays totaling nearly 7 1/2 hours), the game was resumed, with UF leading 4-0, and ended by the mercy rule when the Gators scored four in the fifth, capped by sophomore Kirsti Merritt's three-run, walk-off homer to left that sent her team to a second straight WCWS. That trip ended 10 days later with the first NCAA title in program history.
4
FEB. 8, 1997
DAWN OF AN ERA
What happened: It was on June 13, 1995, that the UAA Board of Directors, acting on the recommendation of UF president John Lombardi, approved the addition of women's softball as the Gators' 20th sport. Twenty months later, the Gators dedicated KSP with the program's inaugural debut — a day that included pregame appearances by UF's Title IX Committee — and a double-header sweep of Stetson. The UF coach was Larry Ray. The first pitch was thrown by Florida's Chelsey Sakizzie to Stetson's Bryttnee Roberts at 4:01 p.m. The first batter to step to the plate for the Gators was Amy Criswell, who proceeded to record the program's first hit with a single down the left field line at 4:12 p.m., then scored the first run seven minutes later. The Gators went on to win 8-0 in a game that lasted 1 hour, 28 minutes. KSP seating capacity at the time was 1,200, but attendance for the standing-room-only game was 2,388.
5
MAY 20, 2006
IT CAN BE DONE
What happened: Another postseason game, another extra-inning game, only this was in regional action and the Gators, after losing their opener, faced North Carolina in an elimination game. It was a pitcher's duel and, Nelson had one of the finest outings of her freshman season. She worked eight shutout innings before UF took a 1-0 decision when Stacie Pestrak, after a leadoff walk, came around to score from first on a Tar Heels throwing error that came on a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Butler. UF did not advance out of the regional, falling later in the day to FAU, but the Gators made a statement in their first season under Walton. "Obviously, we didn't accomplish all that we wanted," he said. "But I thought our kids played hard and that's the first step in having this program take off."
6
APRIL 23, 2011
BRUDER BRUTALIZES ALABAMA
What happened: Alabama was ranked third. Florida was ranked fifth. It was a weekend series of the SEC's two heavyweights and senior Kelsey Bruder did not disappoint. She smashed a first-pitch, three-run rocket in the seventh off Crimson Tide All-American Kelsi Dunne for a 6-5 walk-off win that helped the Gators take the series. All six UF runs came via homers, with Bush and Tiffany DeFelice going yard back-to-back. Bush's homer was her 20th of the season and tied Francesca Enea's single-season record of 20.
MARCH 16, 2016
KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
What happened: Freshman pitcher Kelly Barnhill struck out 18 batters in a 7-0 lawnmower-like job against Winthrop. The tally set the school record for strikeouts in a game (a mark previously held jointly by Ocasio and former Gator Renise Landry, both of whom had 17) and also tied the team record for striking out opposing batters. Ten days earlier, Barnhill and junior Delanie Gourley had combined to fan 18 Florida A&M batters. Afterward, Barnhill shared the moment with her catcher, senior Aubree Munro, and pitching coach Jennifer Rocha. "It feels great," Barnhill said. "I could give you every cliché in the book, but it just feels really amazing to be able to get those strikeouts and have Aubree's support from behind the plate. Especially with Coach Rocha helping call my pitches, she's the brains behind everything."
APRIL 18, 2003
GLADDING DOES IT ALL
What happened: Junior Jenny Gladding pitched the third no-hitter of her career and also hit the game-deciding homer in the sixth inning of a 1-0 victory over Tennessee. The game was scoreless (and the Lady Vols hitless, obviously) when Gladding launched her solo shot with two down in the sixth inning. Gladding finished off UT in the seventh on her way to striking out 12. Said UF coach Karen Johns: "Jenny felt like one run was enough for her to win, and she kept telling that to the team." She was right, all right. "After about the third inning, I really felt like my mix was good and like I was on," Gladding said.
APRIL 5, 1997
FIRST HOME NO-NO
What happened: The first no-hitter in UF softball history came in the program's 44th game, as Sakizzie beat Bethune-Cookman 6-0, along the way striking out 14 and facing just one batter over the minimum 21. For more than two decades, the game was in the Florida record books as the program's first perfect game, but Sakizzie actually hit a BCC batter in the third inning, and that runner was then caught trying to steal second. Sakizzie, who was in her first year after transferring from Central Arizona Junior College, was the first big-time recruit for Ray and the UF prorgram. She went on to become UF's first softball All-American and was the 1998 SEC Player of the Year, leading the Gators to a conference crown and their first NCAA appearance in just the second year of existence.
MAY 8, 2010
OFFENSE ERUPTS ON GAMECOCKS
What happened: Florida scored seven runs in the first, five in the second, another five in the third, plus … well … you get the idea. When it was over (after the opponent got its five required at-bats in the mercy rule win) the scored board showed "Florida 20, South Carolina 0," in the most most lopsided victory over an SEC opponent in program history. Enea clubbed her UF single-season record 19th home run in the first inning — it was the 60th of her career, setting a SEC mark —and set the table for her Florida teammates, who finished with a 21 hits, also a school record. Eleven of the 12 UF players who batted for the Gators recorded hits, led by DeFelice, who went 4-for-6, with two runs, four RBI and her first career grand slam.
Players Mentioned
RHP
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LHP
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UT
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OF
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INF
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