Sports | Softball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Aleshia Ocasio pitches during Florida's 4-1 win against Illinois State on Feb. 21 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF softball run rules two more

By Luis Torres | Feb. 28, 2015

There is one trend that continues for the Florida softball team.

The Gators began their championship run with a bang after Delanie Gourley no-hit the Rattlers in the opening game of the NCAA Regionals.
In a shortened five-inning contest (UF run ruled FAMU 8-0), Gourley struck out seven and only surrendered one walk.
She recorded Florida’s 15th no-hitter in program history and the first ever during the postseason.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

No. 1 Florida tops No. 2 Oregon to start doubleheader sweep

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 27, 2015

Delanie Gourley must have felt right at home pitching against the second-best team in the nation – because she was home.

Kirsti Merritt bats during UF's 17-1 win against USF on April 23 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF softball team heads to California for tournaments

By Luis Torres | Feb. 26, 2015

The road to a second national title for the Florida softball team is about to get tougher.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball wins close midweek against UCF

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 25, 2015

Aleshia Ocasio may be a freshman, but she has no problem pitching against ranked teams.

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 | SOFTBALL

High-powered Florida riding offensive streak into midweek

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 24, 2015

The softball must look like a beach ball to Florida’s hitters.

Briana Little bats during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Little has six RBIs since April 11.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gators softball topples Mercer in doubleheader sweep

By Luis Torres | Feb. 22, 2015

Briana Little had the best offensive performance in the 19-year history of the Florida softball program.

Lauren Haeger rounds the bases after hitting a home run during Florida's 7-1 win against Kansas at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Haeger highlights Florida’s doubleheader sweep

By Luis Torres | Feb. 21, 2015

It’s hard to argue against Lauren Haeger being the best player in the country right now.

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

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF softball run rules Liberty

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 20, 2015

On a frigid night, the Gators were lining frozen ropes left and right at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

Bailey Castro bats during Florida’s 6-0 win against Jacksonville on Feb. 19, 2014, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Middle of lineup providing power as UF prepares for invitational

By Luis Torres | Feb. 19, 2015

The Florida softball team has an advantage a lot of teams around the country wish they could have in their lineup.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Notebook: softball coach looking for more quality at-bats, clutch hitting

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 19, 2015

While the UF softball team has had no problem driving in runs this season, Florida has left its fair share of runs on the basepaths.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Dominant UF pitching staff giving batters trouble during practice

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 17, 2015

Florida’s pitching is dominant – so dominant, that even UF’s own hitters will tell you that they hate facing the Gators’ trio of pitchers in practice.

Lauren Haeger swings during Florida’s 2-0 win against Ole Miss on March 9 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Senior has solid outing in Florida softball’s doubleheader sweep

By Luis Torres | Feb. 15, 2015

Lauren Haeger would probably want to follow the advice of the late Ernie Banks.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball sweeps doubleheader, Tim Walton earns 500th win at UF

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 14, 2015

In his 10th season as the Florida softball head coach, Tim Walton etched numbers 500 and 501 in the win column Saturday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Merritt's jumping catch saves Florida softball's win over NC State

By Luis Torres | Feb. 13, 2015

With the game on the line, Kirsti Merritt ran back toward the warning track.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Freshman showcasing versatility for Florida softball heading into home opener

By Luis Torres | Feb. 12, 2015

If there was one word that would describe what kind of player Nicole DeWitt, it would be versatile.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF softball run rules Jacksonville

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 11, 2015

Lauren Haeger and the Gators were too much the Dolphins to handle, as No. 1 UF routed Jacksonville 16-1 on Wednesday night at the Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex in Jacksonville.

Kirsti Merritt bats during Florida’s 8-0 win against Mercer on March 12 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF riding momentum from season-opening tournament

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 10, 2015

Equipped with an electric offense, the UF softball team stormed into Tampa and won every game they played to open up the season — highlighted by a Gator lineup that clobbered eight home runs in five games.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Juniors spark Gators to doubleheader sweep

By Luis Torres | Feb. 8, 2015

Taylore Fuller must have remembered what she did on Feb. 8, 2014 as she stepped up to the plate.

Left-hander Delanie Gourley pitches during Florida’s 2-0 win against Ole Miss on March 9 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Pitchers, freshmen carry Florida softball to doubleheader sweep in Tampa

By Luis Torres | Feb. 7, 2015

Aleshia Ocasio couldn’t have asked for a better start to her Florida career.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball routs Hampton in season-opening win

By Patrick Pinak | Feb. 6, 2015

Florida softball was firing on all cylinders in its season opener against Hampton as the Gators run ruled the Lady Pirates by a score of 17-0 in five innings Friday afternoon in Tampa at the USF Softball Classic.