Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Thursday, March 28, 2024
<p>Aleshia Ocasio pitches in the first game of Florida's doubleheader against Jacksonville on Feb. 17, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.</p>

Aleshia Ocasio pitches in the first game of Florida's doubleheader against Jacksonville on Feb. 17, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

For the second-straight year, the Gators were the top team in the Southeastern Conference during the regular season.

No. 1 Florida (50-4, 18-4 SEC) did its part with a 9-0 run-rule victory over Arkansas (17-37, 1-21 SEC) on Friday night.

But despite the win, the Gators needed help.

Texas A&M had to beat Auburn.  

It delivered.

The Aggies’ 6-5 victory ensured the Tigers’ conference winning percentage (.714) could not surpass Florida’s (.818).

It’s UF’s sixth regular-season crown in program history and fifth since Tim Walton’s tenure began in 2006.

The Gators are now assured the top seed in the conference’s postseason tournament on May 9.

In Friday’s game, Florida dispatched Arkansas quickly and thoroughly.

Aleshia Ocasio was in top form, allowing three hits and striking out five while tossing a shutout.

She improved her team-best record to 19-1.

“When a pitcher is able to throw at three different speeds with the kind of spin she has, and the way she locates her pitches, it makes it really tough on opposing hitters,” Walton said.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox

Florida’s offense was also overwhelming.   

After Kayli Kvistad’s RBI-double to center highlighted a three-run bottom of the first, UF was up for good.

The Gators’ seniors stepped up in a big way entering the final home series of their careers.

Kelsey Stewart and Kirsti Merritt each hit solo home runs in the second and fifth, respectively.

The veterans’ performance culminated in a three-run home run by Taylore Fuller to ice the game.

“It was pretty cool for three of them to come in and deliver a homerun,” Walton said. With the win, the Gators have now won at least 50 games in four straight seasons, a testament to the program’s consistency and impact of this senior class.

Aubree Munro and Taylor Schwarz will be honored tomorrow along with Stewart, Merritt and Fuller before the series continues at 1 p.m.

They are all good kids who have worked really hard and done a lot to elevate the status of our program,” Walton said.

“Tomorrow’s going to be a tough day.”

Aleshia Ocasio pitches in the first game of Florida's doubleheader against Jacksonville on Feb. 17, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.