WCWS Berth at Stake as No. 1 Seed Florida Hosts SEC Rival Georgia
UF is 14-1 all-time in Super Regional games at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016

WCWS Berth at Stake as No. 1 Seed Florida Hosts SEC Rival Georgia

Florida hosts Georgia in an NCAA Super Regional this weekend at KSP Stadium.
 
Florida Game Notes | NCAA Tournament Bracket | Gainesville Super Regional Information | UF's NCAA Super Regional Digital Guide

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The top-seeded and Southeastern Conference champion Florida Softball team will host Southeastern Conference opponent Georgia in an NCAA Super Regional this weekend at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Game times (all Eastern) are 7 p.m. on Thursday and 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. (if necessary) on Friday. 
 
The Gators (56-5, 20-4 SEC) and Bulldogs (43-18, 12-12 SEC) have met in the postseason just once before, which happened during the 2010 Women's College World Series. The winner of this week's three-game series will advance to Oklahoma City for the 2016 WCWS.
 
The Gators are 72-33 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including a 15-3 record in Super Regionals. During Tim Walton's tenure as head coach, UF is 67-21 in NCAA play and 15-3 in Super Regionals.
 
This year marks the eighth time in the last nine years that the Orange and Blue have hosted a Super Regional (also: 2008-11, 2013-15). Florida is 14-1 all-time in Super Regional games in Gainesville, with four wins against Cal (2008-09) and two victories each against Arizona State (2010), Oregon (2011), UAB (2013), Washington (2014), Kentucky (2015).
 
UF is 14-1 all-time in Super Regional games at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium as UF has won all seven Super Regionals they have played at home.
 
Florida has pitched exceptionally well and executed on defense over the past two-plus seasons. Evidence of this has been the numerous shutouts the Gators have posted during that span. Since 2014, UF has recorded 17 postseason shut outs in 25 games.
 
Shut Outs Breakdown
  • 2014 - Regional – 3, Super Regional – 2, WCWS – 3
  • 2015 - Regional – 3, Super Regional – 2, WCWS – 1
  • 2016 - Regional – 3
 
Coaches' Corner
Head Coach Tim Walton:
"This is going to be a great couple of days of softball, as we've got two really good teams in town. Bring in the SEC matchup, the fact that it's Florida vs. Georgia and the old rivalry of the Eastern division in the SEC, it's going to be intense. That's the one thing, when you play at this level of competition, you just want to play softball. However, now you tie in the emotions with what is at stake. I think the team that can make this the most normal, make the most plays and be the least affected by their emotions is going to come out on top."
 
Quick Hits
  • UF is ranked No. 1 in both polls, No. 1 in the NCAA RPI and has the seventh-toughest schedule in the NCAA.
  • Florida has allowed just 62 runs and committed only 25 errors through 61 games. UF's 62 runs allowed through 61 games is the second fewest in school history through this point in any season. Florida's 2009 squad allowed 50 tallies through 61 contests.
  • The Gators currently sport the best fielding percentage (.984) and earned run average (0.86) in the nation. For comparison through 61 games last season, Florida's pitchers had a 1.67 ERA and its defense had committed 31 errors and had a fielding percentage of .981. UF went on to record a .981 fielding percentage and commit just 33 errors, which are both school records.
  • UF's astounding 0.86 team ERA (398.2 IP) would go down as the second-best ERA for a single season in program history if the season ended today. In addition, Florida's miniscule .153 batting average against (398.2 IP) would be the top b/avg. for a single season in program history.
  • Delanie Gourley (19-3, 219 K), Kelly Barnhill (15-1, 167 K) and Aleshia Ocasio (22-1, 144 K) are the first trio in UF history to win at least 15 games each and record 125+ strikeouts in a single season. UF is the only school in the nation with three different pitchers with at least 100 strikeouts in 2016.
  • Ocasio (0.65) and Gourley (0.70) have the No. 1 and No. 2 ERAs in the country and Barnhill is 11th with a 1.36 earned run average.  Historically, UF is trying to join its own 2009 squad and South Carolina's 1997 team as the only SEC teams to ever finish a season with two pitchers in the top-five nationally in ERA. In addition, UF has a chance to join FSU's 1993 squad as the only teams to finish a season with three pitchers in the top 10.
  • UF's pitching trio leads the SEC with just 62 runs allowed and 530 strikeouts thrown. UF's strikeout total currently ranks second all-time in program history for a single season.
  • Florida's opponents have only attempted to steal 11 bases against Aubree Munro and UF's catchers this season. That mark would shatter Florida's school record of 25 attempts by opponents that was set in 2015. In addition, UF's stolen-base-against percentage of 45% (5-11) this season would be the lowest in school history if the season ended today. Florida's 2003 team holds UF's top mark as they allowed just 51.7% (31-60) of runners to steal a base safely.
  • Offensively, UF is sixth in the country in OBP (.441), 25th in scoring (6.16) and ranks 33rd in BA (.317). The Gators .441 on base percentage would be the top mark in program history if the season ended today.
  • Amanda Lorenz (.531), Nicole DeWitt (.524) and Kayli Kvistad (.516) are trying to become the first trio in school history to all have at least a .500 OBP or higher in a single season.
  • Senior Kelsey Stewart is the NCAA active leader in games played (262), at-bats (908), hits (357), triples (29) and she's third in total bases (509) and fourth in runs scored (259). In addition, she's one of two active players in the country with 300-plus hits, 200-plus runs and 100-plus stolen bases.
 
Broadcast Information
ESPN2 will televise Thursday's contest between Florida and Georgia. Florida Sports Talk will have the radio broadcast with Adam Schick (play-by-play) and former Gator Megan Bush (analysis) on the call. In addition, a live stats link will be available on the schedule page on FloridaGators.com.
 
Schedule of Events (Times EDT)
Thursday, May 26
  • Game 1 -- UF (56-5) vs. Georgia (41-18), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
 
Friday, May 27
  • Game 2 – UF vs. UGA, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
  • Game 3 – UF vs. UGA, 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
    • If necessary
 
NCAA Gainesville Super Regional Ticket Information
  • Fans can purchase tickets for reserved seats
  • Ticket prices:
    • All-Session Pass (this option includes admission to games on Thursday and Friday):
      • $15 for adults
      • $10 for children 12 & under, seniors (55+) and non-UF college students with proof of college ID
    • Single-Session Ticket (on sale Thursday morning - this option is for admission into KSP Stadium on Thursday or Friday):
      • $10 for adults
      • $7 for children 12 & under, seniors (55+) and non-UF college students with proof of college ID
  • All UF students gain free admission with their Gator 1 ID card
  • For fans picking up tickets on game day, the purchaser's picture ID is required to pick up tickets.
  • For more information, please call the Gator Ticket Office at 352-375-4683
 
Parking
EZ Event Ride will continue to shuttle fans from their cars to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium for all postseason games. The shuttles will run from the lots west of Donald R. Dizney Stadium. The shuttles, which will seat six-to-eight individuals, will run two hours before, operate during and until KSP Stadium is empty after each game.
 
As a reminder, due to pedestrian safety concerns, UF Transportation and Parking Services and the University Athletic Association ask that fans do not park on roadways or grass near roadways surrounding Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Any cars parked in these areas will be ticketed. 
 
This service will be provided free of service to all fans.
 
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