UF Softball Communications
(Oklahoma City, Okla.) – The University of Florida softball team defeated Texas A&M, 8-0 (5 innings), on Thursday in the first game of the Women's College World Series. Florida (56-8) used two runs in the first, two in the second, one in the third and three in the fourth to defeat the ninth-seeded Aggies (47-12) in front of a large crowd at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
Sophomore Kelly Barnhill found herself in some immediate trouble on Thursday as a walk and an infield single put runners at the corners with two outs in the top of first.
Unfazed, Barnhill struck out Ashley Walters to end the threat.
Florida carried that momentum in the bottom half of the inning as the Gators scored two runs on three hits.
Sophomore Kayli Kvistad started the rally with a one-out double to left-center field. Following a Nicole DeWitt walk and an Aleshia Ocasio single to right, junior Janell Wheaton delivered a two-run single to center.
Following her classmates lead, Nicole DeWitt extended Florida’s lead to 4-0 on a bases-loaded single to centerfield in the bottom of the second. The Gators did all their damage in this inning with two outs, as a Justine McLean single and a pair of walks by Amanda Lorenz and Kayli Kvistad set the table for Florida’s catcher.
UF tacked on its fifth run of the game in the third inning using some small ball.
Janell Wheaton led off with a walk. After head coach Tim Walton inserted rookie Katie Chronister to pinch run, Alex Voss sacrificed her over to second and shortstop Sophia Reynoso knocked in Chronister via a single to left and a miscue by the Texas A&M outfielder.
The Gators recorded their final three tallies in the fourth as Aleshia Ocasio blasted a three-run home run to right-center field. An Amanda Lorenz single and Nicole DeWitt walk set the table for Ocasio.
In the circle for the Gators, Barnhill (25-3) struck out five Aggies and allowed just the three hits. Senior Delanie Gourley replaced Barnhill in the top of the fifth and worked a scoreless frame to secure the win for UF.
QUOTES
Head Coach Tim Walton
Opening statement…
Yeah, I thought obviously the way we came out and swung the bat early was the contributing factor for us to get a nice cushion. I thought when Janell (Wheaton) came up and got that two-out hit, we said it was nice. It was good to see the players step up and really kind of create a normal atmosphere at the plate, normal atmosphere on defense and a normal atmosphere in our work leading up to this. I think the key is when you have a shut-down pitcher like Kelly Barnhill or a shut-down pitcher like Delanie Gourley, get them a lead early, and it makes everybody feel a lot more comfortable and the swings can open up a little bit. Give credit to our kids. Our coaches didn't do anything different. We didn't put any added pressure on them. I think I said it the other day, it's just going to come down to players - if they can handle this moment, and I thought our players came out and handled this moment very well.
Aleshia Ocasio
On the offense and how it performed today…
I think we did want to make a statement. Hitting is contagious, and when Kayli (Kvistad) started that rally, we just kept the energy going and kept the momentum going. Like it was contagious, like we said. It helped Kelly a lot to stay calm and collected, and getting the lead just – the team in general just helps us stay calm.
Kelly Barnhill
On pitching with a lead…
Whenever you get a lead, it really does take a lot of pressure off a pitcher. You don't have to be pinpoint perfect like they talked about. Of course you always still try to, but having that leeway and having those runs does really affect a pitcher's mentality up there on the mound.
NOTABLES
· Florida is now 23-12 all-time at the WCWS.
· During Tim Walton’s tenure as head coach, UF is 73-25 in NCAA play and 19-11 at the WCWS.
· Most runs scored in a WCWS game for the Gators since the opening game of the WCWS against Baylor – W, 11-0 (5) in 2014. That was also the last time an opponent has been run-ruled at the WCWS.
· Fifth time that the Gators have opened up with a win to start the WCWS.
o 5/28/2009 – Arizona – W, 3-0
o 6/2/2011 – Missouri – W, 6-2
o 5/29/2014 – Baylor – W, 11-0 (5)
o 5/28/2015 – Tennessee – W, 7-2
· It is the ninth time that the Gators have shut out an opponent at the WCWS.
· The Gators picked up their 39th shutout of the season, which ranks first in the nation. Florida’s 39 shutouts are tied for the most in program single-season history (39, 2009).
· Thursday’s game was the first meeting between the two teams at the WCWS since 2008. The Gators are 2-1 against the Aggies all-time at the WCWS.
Amanda Lorenz
• With her single in the fourth, she now has recorded a hit in all but one NCAA Tournament game this season. She is 11-for-21 over eight NCAA Tournament games.
Kayli Kvistad
• Produced her seventh hit of the NCAA Tournament and her second double with her first inning hit to the left center field gap.
• Drew her 65th walk of the season, which ranks second in the country overall and in walks per game (1.03).
Janell Wheaton
• Tallied her fifth hit of the NCAA Tournament and produced her fourth and fifth RBI with a single up the middle that gave the Gators a 2-0 lead in the first.
Justine McLean
• Stole her 56th career base, ranks 8th all-time as a Gator, and her 18th of the season in the bottom of the second inning.
Nicole DeWitt
• Picked up her first hit since the final game of the Gainesville Regional against Oklahoma State. Drove in two runs to give Florida a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Aleshia Ocasio
• Hit her first career home run in the NCAA Tournament with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was her fifth career home run and third of the season.
UP NEXT
The Gators (56-8) advanced into the winner's bracket where they'll face the winner of Thursday's other early session game, either No. 5-seed UCLA (47-13) or No. 13 seed LSU (47-20). Check FloridaGators.com for broadcast information and more details.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com
Twitter
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
Facebook
Sophomore Kelly Barnhill found herself in some immediate trouble on Thursday as a walk and an infield single put runners at the corners with two outs in the top of first.
Unfazed, Barnhill struck out Ashley Walters to end the threat.
Florida carried that momentum in the bottom half of the inning as the Gators scored two runs on three hits.
Sophomore Kayli Kvistad started the rally with a one-out double to left-center field. Following a Nicole DeWitt walk and an Aleshia Ocasio single to right, junior Janell Wheaton delivered a two-run single to center.
Following her classmates lead, Nicole DeWitt extended Florida’s lead to 4-0 on a bases-loaded single to centerfield in the bottom of the second. The Gators did all their damage in this inning with two outs, as a Justine McLean single and a pair of walks by Amanda Lorenz and Kayli Kvistad set the table for Florida’s catcher.
UF tacked on its fifth run of the game in the third inning using some small ball.
Janell Wheaton led off with a walk. After head coach Tim Walton inserted rookie Katie Chronister to pinch run, Alex Voss sacrificed her over to second and shortstop Sophia Reynoso knocked in Chronister via a single to left and a miscue by the Texas A&M outfielder.
The Gators recorded their final three tallies in the fourth as Aleshia Ocasio blasted a three-run home run to right-center field. An Amanda Lorenz single and Nicole DeWitt walk set the table for Ocasio.
In the circle for the Gators, Barnhill (25-3) struck out five Aggies and allowed just the three hits. Senior Delanie Gourley replaced Barnhill in the top of the fifth and worked a scoreless frame to secure the win for UF.
QUOTES
Head Coach Tim Walton
Opening statement…
Yeah, I thought obviously the way we came out and swung the bat early was the contributing factor for us to get a nice cushion. I thought when Janell (Wheaton) came up and got that two-out hit, we said it was nice. It was good to see the players step up and really kind of create a normal atmosphere at the plate, normal atmosphere on defense and a normal atmosphere in our work leading up to this. I think the key is when you have a shut-down pitcher like Kelly Barnhill or a shut-down pitcher like Delanie Gourley, get them a lead early, and it makes everybody feel a lot more comfortable and the swings can open up a little bit. Give credit to our kids. Our coaches didn't do anything different. We didn't put any added pressure on them. I think I said it the other day, it's just going to come down to players - if they can handle this moment, and I thought our players came out and handled this moment very well.
Aleshia Ocasio
On the offense and how it performed today…
I think we did want to make a statement. Hitting is contagious, and when Kayli (Kvistad) started that rally, we just kept the energy going and kept the momentum going. Like it was contagious, like we said. It helped Kelly a lot to stay calm and collected, and getting the lead just – the team in general just helps us stay calm.
Kelly Barnhill
On pitching with a lead…
Whenever you get a lead, it really does take a lot of pressure off a pitcher. You don't have to be pinpoint perfect like they talked about. Of course you always still try to, but having that leeway and having those runs does really affect a pitcher's mentality up there on the mound.
NOTABLES
· Florida is now 23-12 all-time at the WCWS.
· During Tim Walton’s tenure as head coach, UF is 73-25 in NCAA play and 19-11 at the WCWS.
· Most runs scored in a WCWS game for the Gators since the opening game of the WCWS against Baylor – W, 11-0 (5) in 2014. That was also the last time an opponent has been run-ruled at the WCWS.
· Fifth time that the Gators have opened up with a win to start the WCWS.
o 5/28/2009 – Arizona – W, 3-0
o 6/2/2011 – Missouri – W, 6-2
o 5/29/2014 – Baylor – W, 11-0 (5)
o 5/28/2015 – Tennessee – W, 7-2
· It is the ninth time that the Gators have shut out an opponent at the WCWS.
· The Gators picked up their 39th shutout of the season, which ranks first in the nation. Florida’s 39 shutouts are tied for the most in program single-season history (39, 2009).
· Thursday’s game was the first meeting between the two teams at the WCWS since 2008. The Gators are 2-1 against the Aggies all-time at the WCWS.
Amanda Lorenz
• With her single in the fourth, she now has recorded a hit in all but one NCAA Tournament game this season. She is 11-for-21 over eight NCAA Tournament games.
Kayli Kvistad
• Produced her seventh hit of the NCAA Tournament and her second double with her first inning hit to the left center field gap.
• Drew her 65th walk of the season, which ranks second in the country overall and in walks per game (1.03).
Janell Wheaton
• Tallied her fifth hit of the NCAA Tournament and produced her fourth and fifth RBI with a single up the middle that gave the Gators a 2-0 lead in the first.
Justine McLean
• Stole her 56th career base, ranks 8th all-time as a Gator, and her 18th of the season in the bottom of the second inning.
Nicole DeWitt
• Picked up her first hit since the final game of the Gainesville Regional against Oklahoma State. Drove in two runs to give Florida a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning.
Aleshia Ocasio
• Hit her first career home run in the NCAA Tournament with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was her fifth career home run and third of the season.
UP NEXT
The Gators (56-8) advanced into the winner's bracket where they'll face the winner of Thursday's other early session game, either No. 5-seed UCLA (47-13) or No. 13 seed LSU (47-20). Check FloridaGators.com for broadcast information and more details.
FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter