Softball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Tim Walton talks with Taylor Schwarz during Florida's doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville on Feb. 17, 2016, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

No. 1 Florida softball faces No. 8 FSU

By Brian Lee | Apr. 12, 2016

The UF softball team has dominated Florida State over the last decade.

UF's Kirsti Merritt crosses home plate to score the lone run of the game in the eighth inning of Florida softball's 1-0 win against Florida Atlantic during the NCAA Regional finals on May 17, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

UF softball to host Alabama for alumnae weekend

By Matt Brannon | Mar. 31, 2016

The softball team will take on its toughest test of the season against No. 6 Alabama at 6 p.m. .

Kelsey Stewart fields a ball during Florida's doubleheader sweep of Jacksonville on Feb. 17, 2016 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Auburn hands Florida softball first loss of season in series finale

By Matt Brannon | Mar. 14, 2016

With runners on second and third base in the bottom of the seventh inning, shortstop Kelsey Stewart threw to first.

Sports

Florida sweeps doubleheader against South Alabama, FIU

By Matt Brannon | Mar. 5, 2016

The Gators (20-0) outclassed their opponents on Saturday, winning both games of their doubleheader in dominating fashion on the second day of the Aquafina Invitational in at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Delanie Gourley pitches during Florida's 14-10 loss to LSU on March 14, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

No. 1 Florida softball opens tourney with win over FIU

By Brian Lee | Mar. 4, 2016

Delanie Gourley’s bid for a perfect game ended when Florida International right fielder Dominique Grossman homered to left field with one out in the sixth inning — the first home run that Florida’s pitching staff has allowed in 2016.

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

Sports

Aleshia Ocasio propels Florida to 1-0 win over Utah

By Brian Lee | Feb. 27, 2016

Aleshia Ocasio was dominant on Saturday.

Sports

Pitchers leading UF softball team into matchup with No. 11 UCLA

By Matt Brannon | Feb. 24, 2016

The Gators will hit the Golden State desert for their third tournament of the year.

Sports

Florida softball sweeps double-header in Orlando

By Matt Brannon | Feb. 20, 2016

When Aleshia Ocasio got the strikeout to put the lid on a Saturday doubleheader, a sigh of relief swept across the dugout.

Taylore Fuller fist-bumps coach Tim Walton as she rounds third base after hitting a home run on May 18 against USF.

Sports

Florida softball run rules Michigan

By Brian Lee | Feb. 13, 2016

It was supposed to be a clash between the two top teams in the country — a rematch of last season’s dramatic Women’s College World Series — when No. 1 Florida squared off against No. 2 Michigan in the USF Wilson-DeMarini Tournament in Tampa on Saturday.

Sports

Florida holds Illinois State scoreless in season opener

By Matt Brannon | Feb. 12, 2016

After winning back-to-back national championships, Florida entered the 2016 season hoping to pick up where it left off.

Coach Tim Walton was more than happy to empty his bench in Florida's 19-3 win over Florida A&M on Wednesday. “I think overall the main priority is to get everybody at-bats and to keep our timing right," he said.

Sports

Gators softball ranked No. 1 heading into season

By Brian Lee | Jan. 26, 2016

The Florida softball team will begin its national championship defense from the same place it started last season’s: The top.

Taylore Fuller bats during Florida's 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22, 2014 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Florida utility players look to make impact in 2016 season

By Brian Lee | Jan. 21, 2016

Depth and versatility are two qualities essential to any championship team.

Aleshia Ocasio pitches during Florida's win against Illinois State on Feb. 21, 2015, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Gators softball team looking to fill void left by Lauren Haeger

By Matt Brannon | Jan. 13, 2016

With the loss of Florida phenom Lauren Haeger to National Pro Fastpitch, UF’s softball team will need to bolster its pitching department. Haeger, the 2015 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year threw a jaw-dropping 222.1 innings last season, more than all other pitchers on the team combined.

Aubree Munro catches during Florida's 7-1 win against Kansas on Feb. 21 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Four Gators named to softball USWNT

By Brian Lee | Jan. 8, 2016

Florida will be well represented when the USA Softball Women’s National Team competes internationally this Summer.

Sights from Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium June 4, 2015, as the UF softball team returned home from Oklahoma City as back-to-back national champions.

Sports

Florida softball looking to three-peat in 2016

By Matt Brannon | Jan. 4, 2016

The Florida softball team has a chance to do something incredible this year — become the second team in history to three-peat in the Women’s College World Series.

Jennifer Rocha, courtesy of Gatorzone.com

Sports

UF assistant softball coach to lead Charge

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Nov. 18, 2015

UF assistant softball coach Jen Rocha on Wednesday was named head coach of the Dallas Charge, a team in the National Pro Fastpitch League.

Lauren Haeger pitches during Florida's 14-10 loss to LSU on Mar. 14 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Sports

Lauren Haeger named SEC Female Athlete of the Year

By Luis Torres | July 9, 2015

Lauren Haeger continues to pile on the awards.

The Florida gymnastics team celebrates wining the NCAA National Championship on Saturday, April 18, 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sports

Which Florida Gators team was the best in 2014-15: Softball or gymnastics?

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | July 1, 2015

With the start of the Summer B semester and the end of the 2014-2015 collegiate athletic season, it’s time for another installment of the annual Alligator Awards. This week, Alligator editor-in-chief Jordan McPherson and alligatorSports assistant editor Luis Torres debate which of UF’s national championship winning teams — the softball team or the gymnastics team — deserves the title of "Best Team."

Sports

Assistant softball coach Kenny Gajewski accepts head coach position at Oklahoma State

By Luis Torres | June 13, 2015

The Florida softball team has just lost one of its most important pieces on the team.

Florida pitcher Lauren Haeger, right, celebrates with catcher Aubree Munro at the end of the final game against Michigan in the NCAA softball Women's College World Series, Wednesday, June 3, 2015, in Oklahoma City. Florida won 4-1.

Sports

STILL ON TOP: Gators win second title

By Patrick Pinak | June 3, 2015

Tim Walton knew a repeat wasn’t going to be easy.