Softball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Infielder Nicole DeWitt socked a walk-off home run over the wall at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Saturday, capping off a sweep for Florida against South Carolina.

Sports

Nicole DeWitt’s walk off helps Gators sweep the Gamecocks

By Mark Stine | Apr. 15, 2018

South Carolina center fielder Kamryn Watts stuck her arm out to feel for the wall.

Third baseman Nicole DeWitt homered in her lone at-bat in Friday night's 3-1 win over South Carolina.

Sports

Florida softball team tops Gamecocks behind home run from DeWitt

By Mark Stine | Apr. 13, 2018

With the bases empty in the bottom of the third inning, UF third baseman Nicole DeWitt greeted a 1-0 pitch left over the middle of the plate with barrel of her bat.

Coach Tim Walton said he plans to utilize the versatility of his roster. “Every series, we’ll have a different lineup," he said.

Sports

Gators looking to rebound against South Carolina after tough road stretch

By Mark Stine | Apr. 12, 2018

After playing five straight road games over the past nine days, Florida’s softball team is preparing for a weekend homestand with some of its players under the weather. Though coach Tim Walton wouldn’t specify which players exactly were sick, he did say roughly half the team was feeling ill.

First baseman Kayli Kvistad drove in the Gators' lone run in a 4-1 loss against FSU on Wednesday.

Sports

Florida drops midweek matchup at FSU for second meeting in a row

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 12, 2018

First baseman Kayli Kvistad took the batter’s box in the top of the seventh inning with a blank expression as cheers rang out from JoAnne Graf Field Wednesday night. The crowd had been rambunctious long before she stepped up to the plate.

UF left fielder Amanda Lorenz has a .398 batting average heading into Florida’s midweek matchup with Florida State. She leads the Gators in runs, hits, doubles and RBIs.

Sports

Florida takes on FSU in midweek matchup in Tallahassee

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 10, 2018

Florida’s softball team has little time to rest. The team is taking a trip to Tallahassee to take on Florida State tonight following a series win against the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Pitcher Kelly Barnhill gave up two runs on four hits in a complete game against Alabama on Monday.

Sports

Florida captures series against Alabama behind clutch hitting from Romanello

By Mark Stine | Apr. 10, 2018

The odds were stacked against Florida’s Danielle Romanello in the top of the sixth inning. The freshman catcher faced an 0-2 count against Alabama ace Alexis Osorio with two outs and the game tied.

Senior Aleshia Ocasio torched Ohio State for a no-hitter on Sunday evening.

Sports

Florida falls to Crimson Tide after offense fails to cash in

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 8, 2018

Pitcher Aleshia Ocasio stepped to the plate in the top of the first with the bases loaded and two outs.

Left fielder Amanda Lorenz has come around to score every time she has drawn a leadoff walk to start the game.

Sports

Gators get past Alabama after offense draws nine walks

By Mark Stine | Apr. 7, 2018

A walk is rarely the most important play of a softball game. But during Saturday’s matchup between Florida and Alabama, bases on balls played a crucial role.

Senior Aleshia Ocasio fell to 14-3 on the season after picking up the loss in a 1-0 matchup against UCF on Wednesday.

Sports

Florida softball takes on Alabama in fourth SEC series

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 5, 2018

A 1-0 midweek loss in Orlando, Florida, against the UCF Knights was the result of a low pitch count and even lower hitting count for Florida’s softball team.

Nicole DeWitt bats during UF's 2-1 win against UNF on April 1, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Gators offense shut out by Knights in 1-0 loss on Wednesday

By Mark Stine | Apr. 5, 2018

With a runner on second, UCF catcher Cassady Brewer swung at the first pitch she saw.

Shortstop Sophia Reynoso went 3-for-6 from the plate in Saturday's games against Jacksonville and Hampton.

Sports

Florida softball looks forward to team bonding in away game stretch

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 1, 2018

It’s cliché to say that in most college athletic programs, your teammates become your family. But for Florida’s softball team, it’s exactly that kind of mentality that helps its program succeed when it faces long road-game stretches.

Freshman Natalie Lugo logged her first career start Saturday against Hampton.

Sports

Florida’s softball team finishes weekend against non-conference opponents with four wins

By Mari Faiello | Apr. 1, 2018

Split-second decisions can make the difference in any kind of outcome.

Pitcher Kelly Barnhill drew a walk in just her fourth plate appearance of her career on Friday.

Sports

UF softball wins Game 1 of doubleheader, second game postponed

By Mark Stine | Mar. 31, 2018

If there’s one indication that a game is over before it’s actually finished, it’s when Kelly Barnhill steps into the batter’s box.

Coach Tim Walton talked about the excitement surrounding the future upgrades to Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. “It’s been a fun process so far even though we haven’t broken ground yet,” he said.

Sports

Florida softball team excited for stadium renovations next season

By Mari Faiello | Mar. 30, 2018

After 21 years of history on the diamond, Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, home to Florida’s softball program, will have a whole new look for the 2019 season.

Senior Aleshia Ocasio tossed her second career no-hitter Wednesday night against FIU.

Sports

Ocasio throws no-hitter, Florida shut out for first time in 2018 as Gators split doubleheader with FIU

By Mark Stine | Mar. 28, 2018

With one swing of the bat, Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium fell into a stunned silence.

Kelly Barnhill leads the nation in hits allowed per seven innings pitched.

Sports

Florida softball to play in Florida International doubleheader tonight

By Mari Faiello | Mar. 28, 2018

If you were looking for All-American pitcher Kelly Barnhill on the day of a Florida softball game, the obvious place to search for her would be Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Designated player Jordan Matthews drove in three runs in Florida's 7-3 win over Texas A&M on Monday.

Sports

Gators complete sweep of No. 8 Texas A&M

By Mark Stine | Mar. 26, 2018

“Now here’s a little something that needs to be heard.”

Senior Aleshia Ocasio struck out 10 Missouri batters in a complete game shutout of the Tigers at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.

Sports

Florida’s softball team blanks TAMU, clinches weekend series

By Mark Stine | Mar. 25, 2018

In the home half of the third inning on Sunday night, UF third baseman Nicole DeWitt stood on second base with an ear-to-ear grin.

UF pitcher Kelly Barnhill recorded her 13th win of the season with 111 pitches against Texas A&M, allowing only two hits while striking out 12 batters. "She doesn’t try to overtalk to herself. She doesn’t try to overdo it,” Walton said.

Sports

Barnhill wins 13th game of the year to lead Florida past Texas A&M

By Mari Faiello | Mar. 24, 2018

Gripping her bat tightly in the bottom of the first, Florida catcher Janell Wheaton patiently waited on a pitch from Texas A&M’s Samantha Show.

Junior Kelly Barnhill and the Gators are set to take on Texas A&M in a three-game series starting Saturday.

Sports

Florida softball takes on Texas A&M in SEC series at home

By Mari Faiello | Mar. 23, 2018

As Florida third baseman Nicole DeWitt stood on deck, she could hear the screams and cheers of every Florida fan sitting behind her at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.