Florida Gators

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No. 5-ranked Florida softball team opens up the 2018 regular season Friday, Feb. 8, at the USF Opening Weekend Invitational. Last year the program went to its ninth Women's College World Series over the last 11 season; a mark that no other program in the country has achieved over that span.

Leading into the 2019 season, the Gators will open the year against Illinois State for the sixth consecutive time. The Friday afternoon 4:45 p.m. contest precedes games against No. 19 Michigan, No. 7 Arizona, N.C. State and USF.

Every game this weekend will be broadcast on WGGG (92.1 FM/1230 AM) & WMOP (100.1 FM/900 AM). Kyle Crooks will have the call Friday then followed up by Ryan Urquhart Saturday and Sunday.
 
Notable Notes

Walton Wins
Florida Head Coach Tim Walton leads all active NCAA DI head coaches with a .799 winning percentage. Walton, a DI softball head coach for 16 years, has compiled 845 wins to just 213 losses while leading both the Gators for 13 years (2006-present) and Wichita State for three (2003-05).

This weekend Walton goes head-to-head with Mike Candrea of Arizona (.794) and Carol Hutchins of Michigan (.756) who both rank inside the Top 10 in win percentage.
 
Gators vs. The Top 25
 
Last season Florida notched a 28-9 record against teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 and in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25.
 
This weekend the Gators will face their first ranked opponents in No. 19/14 Michigan and No. 7/6 Arizona. Florida has defeated the Wolverines and the Wildcats in its last four contests.
 
UF is scheduled to play 31 games against competition ranked in the preseason Top 25.

Historically the program holds a 306-233 (.567) record against teams ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and a record of 265-144 (.647) against teams ranked in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll.

The winning percentage increases during the Tim Walton era as Florida boasts a record of 242-104 (.699) against those ranked in the USA Today/NFCA poll and 239-106 (.693) over his 13 years at the helm of the program.
 
Florida Projected SEC Favorites
 
For the sixth consecutive season, the Gators are picked by the league's head coaches to win the SEC title.
 
The league office announced the poll results Tuesday, Jan. 15. The team picked up 10 of the 13 available first place votes for a total of 142 points.
 
Lorenz & Barnhill Tabbed Preseason All-SEC
 
Thursday, January 24, the Southeastern Conference announced the 2019 Preseason All-SEC Team, which included Florida seniors Kelly Barnhill & Amanda Lorenz.
 
Barnhill, the two-time and reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year, and Lorenz, the 2018 SEC Player of the Year, were also top four finalists for last year's USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year and Collegiate Women in Sports Award (CWSA) presented by Honda.
 
Trio of Gators Selected to USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List
 
Barnhill, Lorenz and Minnesota transfer Kendyl Lindaman landed on the Top 50 "Watch List" for the 2018 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.
 
In 2017, Barnhill became only the second sophomore ever (Cat Osterman, 2003) and second Gator (Lauren Haeger, 2015) ever to win the coveted award.
 
Barnhill and Lorenz finished their 2018 campaign as Top 4 finalists for the award, while Lindaman was on the Top 50 "Watch List".
 
  
Opposition Overview

Illinois State	Live Stats
Head Coach	Melinda Fischer (34th Season)
Career Record	1,033-761-4 at Illinois State
All-Time Record vs.	10-2 (.833)
Streak	Won Last 10
Last Meeting	Feb. 23, 2018 - W, 10-1 (5 Innings) Aquafina Invitational (Gainesville, Fla.)

 

No.19/14 Michigan	Live Stats
Head Coach	Carol Hutchins (35th Season)
Career Record	1,571-504-5 at Michigan
All-Time Record vs.	11-9 (.550)
Streak	Won Last 4
Last Meeting	Feb. 10, 2018 - W, 2-0 USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament (Tampa, Fla.)

 

No. 7/6 Arizona	Live Stats
Head Coach	Mike Candrea (34th Season)
Career Record	1,563-404-2 at Arizona
All-Time Record vs.	4-5 (.444)
Streak	Won Last 4
Last Meeting	March 6, 2015 – W, 10-0 (6 Innings) Judi Garman Classic (Fullerton, Calif.)

 

N.C. State	Live Stats
Head Coach	Jennifer Patrick-Swift (1st Season)
Career Record	0-0 at N.C. State
All-Time Record vs.	6-2 (.750)
Streak	Won Last 6
Last Meeting	Feb. 25, 2016 – W, 5-2 Mary Nutter Classic (Palm Springs, Calif.)

 

USF	Live Stats
Head Coach	Ken Eriksen (23rd Season)
Career Record	927-483-1 at USF
All-Time Record vs.	47-13 (.783)
Streak	Won Last 14
Last Meeting	March 21, 2018 - W, 9-0 (5 Innings) (Gainesville, Fla.)

 
 
USF Opening Weekend Invitational Schedule

2/8	vs. Illinois State	4:45 p.m.
2/9	vs. No. 19/14 Michigan	10:30 a.m.
2/9	vs. No. 7/6 Arizona	12:45 p.m.
2/10	vs. N.C. State	1:30 p.m.
2/10	at USF	4:15 p.m.

 
USF Softball Stadium
11899 USF Bull Run Drive
Tampa, FL 33617
 
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