Gators advance to NCAA Super Regional ‘The Florida Way’
By Mark Stine | May 22, 2018“The Florida Way.”
“The Florida Way.”
As a Gatorade shower rushed down the spine of UF pitcher Aleshia Ocasio, many of her teammates led the crowd at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium in the Gator Chomp.
Like a carousel, the UF softball team rotated through its lineup in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings.
UF pinch hitter Jaimie Hoover sprinted across the bases in the bottom of the second inning. She knew the pitch smacked to dead center field was destined to leave the ballpark, but she couldn’t wait to round the bases and greet her teammates.
UF’s Aleshia Ocasio stood in the circle as her teammates rushed to meet her.
UF third baseman Nicole DeWitt embraced teammates Kayli Kvistad and Amanda Lorenz at home plate. She just launched a two-run home run into the stratosphere above the Mizzou Softball Stadium, sparking a three-run opening inning for the No. 4 Gators.
Crack!
Tied at four apiece in the top of the seventh, senior first baseman Kayli Kvistad knew what it was going to take to finish Florida softball’s uphill battle against the Missouri Tigers.
As a pinch hitter with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, UF sophomore Jordan Roberts stepped into the batter’s box with one mission: get a hit and extend the inning.
In the top of the sixth, senior catcher Janell Wheaton walked up to home plate with an 0-1 count.
Things looked pretty grim at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium as the Gators entered the bottom of the fifth, down 3-0 to the LSU Tigers.
The seniors on the UF softball team ‒ pitcher Aleshia Ocasio, first baseman Kayli Kvistad, third baseman Nicole DeWitt and catcher Janell Wheaton ‒ were honored during their second game of the series against No. 13 LSU on Saturday. Their numbers adorned Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium and were traced behind home plate, planted next to their positions and embroidered into the outfield.
When Alex Voss stepped up to home plate for her first at-bat of the night, she was just trying to get on base and help the Gators get back to the top of the batting order.
When junior left fielder Amanda Lorenz woke up this morning she had one wish for her birthday: a win against Florida State.
Florida’s softball team mobbed left fielder Amanda Lorenz as she hopped on home plate in the bottom of the fourth inning.
In her first at-bat of the night, Amanda Lorenz stepped up to the plate with confidence.
It started out with three runs. Then 12. Then another four. All in just three innings.
UF first baseman Kayli Kvistad jogged up the first-base line.
After sweeping South Carolina at home this past weekend, Florida’s softball team will hit the diamond again tonight at 6 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium to take on Florida A&M.
The Gators softball team will face Georgia at 7 p.m. on Thursday.