Florida Gators softball

Florida Gators softball
University University of Florida
Conference SEC
Location Gainesville, FL
Head coach Tim Walton (9th year)
Home stadium Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium (Capacity: 1,200)
Nickname Florida Gators
Colors Blue and Orange[1]
         
National Championships
2014, 2015
WCWS Appearances
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Conference Tournament Champions
2008, 2009, 2013
Conference Champions
1998, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016

The Florida Gators softball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of softball. The Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators play their home games at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus, and are currently led by head coach Tim Walton. In the seventeen-year history of the Gators softball program, the team has won two Women's College World Series (WCWS) national championships, five SEC regular season championships, three SEC tournament championships, and have made seven WCWS appearances.

History

Ray era: 1997–2000

On June 13, 1995, the board of directors of the University Athletic Association approved the addition of a women's softball team to the University of Florida's athletic program. Larry Ray, who would coach the new Florida Gators softball team for their first four seasons, agreed to be the first head coach on September 4, 1995. After the construction of their new stadium facility, the Gators played their first two games in a doubleheader on February 8, 1997, against the Stetson Hatters, both of which they won.

In the inaugural year of the Florida Gators softball program, Ray's team posted an overall win-loss record of 42–25 and a Southeastern Conference record of 16–8, and was the runner-up in the SEC Softball Tournament runner-up, ultimately losing to the second-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks in the title game. The Gators built on the early success of their first season to win the program's first-ever SEC regular season championship in 1998, and advance to the NCAA Tournament. After the 2000 season, Ray left Florida to return to an assistant coaching position with the Arizona Wildcats softball team at the University of Arizona, where he previously coached.

Johns era: 2001–2005

For the 2001 season, Ray was replaced by Karen Johns. Under Johns, the Gators qualified for the NCAA Tournament four of five season, and compiled a record of 192–131 during her tenure in Gainesville. After the Gators finished third in the SEC Eastern Division for the fourth straight season, and suffered four consecutive losses in the 2005 SEC Tournament and the opening round of the NCAA tournament, Johns was fired.

Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium, the Gainesville, Florida home field of the Florida Gators softball team.

Walton era: 2006–present

To replace Johns, Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley hired the then-head coach of the Wichita State Shockers softball team, Tim Walton, as the Gators' new coach. Under Walton, the Gators softball team has become a consistent SEC and national title contender. In 2014, the Gators won their first national championship.

2008 World Series

In his third season as the Gators' head coach, he led the team to an NCAA single season record seventy wins and five losses. The team also made its first-ever Women's College World Series (WCWS) appearance after beating the California Golden Bears, two games to none, in the Gainesville Super Regional of the NCAA tournament. After losing its opening game of the WCWS to Louisiana Lafayette, the Gators won three straight against games the Virginia Tech Hokies and Texas A&M Aggies. However, in the double-elimination format of the NCAA Tournament, the Gators needed to beat Texas A&M twice in the WCWS semifinals to move into the championship final series. That second semifinal game went two extra innings before either team scored, and the Aggies earned the 1–0 victory in the ninth inning.[2] Gators pitcher Stacey Nelson ended the 2008 season with single-season school records in wins (47), strikeouts (363), innings pitched (352.1), and earned run average (0.75).[3]

2009 World Series

The Gators began their 2009 season ranked No. 1 in the country in both major college softball polls, but finished second after falling 8–0 and 3–2 to the Washington Huskies in the best-of-three-games final championship series of the 2009 Women's College World Series. The Gators compiled an overall record of 63–5 and completed its SEC regular season with a record of 26–1. They also broke the SEC single-season record for home runs (86), and several single-season team records including grand slams (12), total shutouts (39), and consecutive shutouts (11). Aja Paculba set the single-season stolen base record (27), Francesca Enea broke the career home run record (41) in her junior season, and the Florida pitching staff threw three no-hitters in the regular season (Stephanie Brombacher vs. Coastal Carolina; Stacey Nelson vs. Ole Miss and Arkansas). Nelson was named the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winner and the SEC Pitcher of the year for the second straight year. Nelson was named to the All-American first team (pitcher), and Brombacher (pitcher), Enea (outfielder), Kelsey Bruder (outfielder), and Paculba (second baseman) were named to the second team.

2010 World Series

The 2010 Gators softball team again qualified for the NCAA tournament, and advanced to the 2010 Women's College World Series. In the opening game of the Series, the fourth-seeded Gators were decisively defeated 16–3 by the UCLA Bruins, who ultimately won the 2010 championship. The Gators recovered to eliminate the ninth-seeded Missouri Tigers 5–2, before being edged 3–2 and eliminated in turn by the sixth-seeded Georgia Bulldogs.

2011 World Series

During the 2011 season, the Gators experienced a series of up-and-down streaks, but recovered to win the SEC Eastern Division for the fourth consecutive year. After being upset by the Auburn Tigers in the first round of the SEC tournament, the Gators qualified for the NCAA tournament and advanced to the 2011 Women's College World Series. In the World Series semifinals, the Gators twice defeated the SEC champion Alabama Crimson Tide, 16–2 and 9–2, to advance to the finals. The top-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils, in turn, swept the Gators, 14–4 and 7–2, in the best-of-three championship finals.

2012 NCAA Tournament

On the eve of the NCAA Tournament, three players: Cheyenne Coyle, Sami Fagan, and Kasey Fagan were dismissed from the team. The No. 5 Gators lost to Florida Gulf Coast and USF in the Regionals and failed to reach the WCWS for the first time in Walton's tenure at UF.

2013 World Series

Despite winning the SEC regular season and tournament titles, the No. 2 Gators lost to Tennessee 2–9 to open the WCWS. After a thrilling 9–8 extra innings game win against Nebraska, they lost 0–3 to Texas to end their season.

2014 National Champs

The Gators beat rivals Alabama for their first national championship with tournament MVP Hannah Rogers in the circle.

2015 National Champs

Led by the National Player of the year in Lauren Haeger, Florida became just the third team in the history of college softball to win back to back national championships. They defeated Michigan in the last game of the best of three series 4–1 to win the title. Lauren Haeger then went on to win the 2015 Honda Award.

Year-by-year results

Season Overall Record SEC Record NCAA Tournament Results SEC Tournament Results SEC Regular Season Finish[4]
1997 42–25[5] 16–8 Did Not Make W 6–2 vs. Alabama
L 1–6 vs. No. 2 South Carolina
W 2–1 vs. Tennessee
W 4–3 vs. No. 23 LSU
W 7–5 vs. Auburn
L 0–8 vs. No. 2 South Carolina 		3rd East Division
1998 47–22 23–5 L 0–1 vs. No. 6 South Florida
L 0–1 vs. No 16 Arizona State 		W 3–1 vs Georgia
W 10–9 vs. South Carolina
L 0–1 vs. Mississippi State
L 0–1 vs. Mississippi State 		1st SEC
1999 34–39 13–15 Did Not Make L 3–11 vs. No. 24 Tennessee
L 1–4 vs. Alabama 		3rd East Division
2000 46–30 13–14 L 0–2 vs. No 10 California
W 1–0 vs. No 6 Fresno State
W 5–2 vs. Texas
L 1–2 vs. No 10 California 		L 0–1 vs. No 11 Alabama
W 2–0 vs. Kentucky
L 1–2 vs. Arkansas 		2nd East Division
2001 37–28 14–15 L 0–3 vs. FAU
W 8–0 vs. UConn
L 2–6 vs. No 16 Florida State 		L 0–1 vs. Mississippi State
L 1–4 vs. Auburn 		2nd East Division
2002 32–35 12–18 Did Not Make L 0–5 vs. No 3 LSU
L 1–7 vs. Auburn 		3rd East Division
2003 41–25 19–11 W 3–2 vs. Oregon State
L 0–2 vs. Texas-Arlington
L 1–2 vs. FAU 		W 6–2 vs. No 19/20 South Carolina
W 1–0 vs. No 7/9 Georgia
L 0–1 vs. No 12/13 LSU
L 1–3 vs. No 12/13 LSU 		3rd East Division
2004 41–20 16–13 L 1–2 vs. Cal State-Northridge
W 4–0 vs. Long Island
L 1–8 vs. No 17/19 South Florida 		L 1–7 vs. No 10/11 Georgia
L 5–7 vs. No 10/11 Tennessee 		3rd East Division
2005 41–23 18–12 L 2–3 vs. Bethune-Cookman
L 3–5 vs. UCF 		L 0–4 vs. No 11/13 Tennessee
L 1–9 vs. LSU 		3rd East Division
2006 43–25 17–13 L 0–2 vs. FAU
W 1–0 vs. North Carolina
L 0–1 vs. FAU 		L 0–6 vs. Tennessee 3rd East Division
2007 50–22 17–11 W 8–0 vs. Stetson
W 3–0 vs. No 17 Georgia Tech
W 3–0 vs. No 18 Texas
L 0–2 vs. No 7 Texas A&M
W 3–2 vs. No 7 Texas A&M
L 0–2 vs. No 7 Texas A&M 		W 3–0 vs. Mississippi State
W 1–0 vs. No 1 Tennessee
L 0–1 vs. No 5/6 LSU 		2nd East Division
2008 70–5 27–1 W 7–2 vs. Georgia Tech
W 3–0 vs. UCF
L 0–1 vs. UCF
W 10–0 vs. UCF
W 4–2 vs. No 24/25 California
W 4–2 vs. No 24/25 California
L 2–3 vs. No 16/17 Louisiana-Lafayette*
W 2–0 vs. No 16/17 Virginia Tech*
W 2–0 vs. No 3/5 UCLA*
W 6–1 vs. No 4/5 Texas A&M*
L 0–1 vs. No 4/5 Texas A&M* 		W 1–0 vs. Ole Miss
W 6–1 vs. No 12/13 Tennessee
W 4–1 vs. No 3 Alabama
SEC Tournament Champs 		1st SEC
2009 63–5 26–1 W 12–0 vs. Florida A&M
W 7–1 vs. Texas A&M
W 9–0 vs. Lehigh
W 2–0 vs. No 14 California
W 2–1 vs No 14 California
W 3–0 vs No 6 Arizona*
W 1–0 vs No 7 Michigan*
W 6–5 vs No 4 Alabama*
L 0–8 vs No 3 Washington*
L 2–3 vs No 3 Washington* 		W 3–0 vs. Auburn
W 11–3 vs. No 18 Tennessee
W 8–5 vs. No 5 Alabama
SEC Tournament Champs 		1st SEC
2010 49–10 20–4 W 6–0 vs. Bethune-Cookman
W 6–0 vs. UCF
W 13–3 vs. FIU
W 8–0 vs. No 10/11 Arizona State
W 5–2 vs No 10/11 Arizona State
L 3–16 vs No 5/4 UCLA*
W 5–0 vs No 8/14 Missouri*
L 2–3 vs No 9 Georgia* 		W 9–1 vs. Auburn
L 1–9 vs. No 17/11 LSU		 1st East Division
2011 56–13 21–7 W 8–0 vs. Bethune-Cookman
W 4–2 vs. No 14 UCLA
L 2–3 vs. No 14 UCLA
W 11–3 vs. No 14 UCLA
W 9–1 vs. No 11 Oregon
W 7–0 vs No 11 Oregon
W 6–2 vs No 5 Missouri*
L 5–6 vs No 1 Arizona State*
W 16–2 vs No 2 Alabama*
W 9–2 vs No 2 Alabama*
L 4–14 vs No 1 Arizona State*
L 2–7 vs No 1 Arizona State* 		L 2–6 vs. No 24 Auburn
 1st East Division
2012 48–13 21–7 L 1–2 vs. FGCU
W 7–1 vs. UCF
W 6–2 vs. FGCU
L 0–1 vs. No 22 USF
 W 1–0 vs. LSU
W 2–1 vs. No 3 Tennessee
L 1–10 vs. No 4 Alabama
 2nd East Division
2013 58–9 18–6 W 7–1 vs. Hampton
W 11–1 vs. No 22 USF
W 2–0 vs. No 22 USF
W 4–3 vs. UAB
W 1–0 vs. UAB
L 2–9 vs. No 5 Tennessee*
W 9–8 vs. No 16/17 Nebraska*
L 0–3 vs. No 6/7 Texas* 		W 8–4 vs. No 9/10 Alabama
W 9–5 vs. No 23 Georgia
W 10–4 No 7/8 Missouri
SEC Tournament Champs 		1st SEC
2014 55–12 15–9 W 8–0 vs. Florida A&M
W 14–0 vs. Stetson
W 7–0 vs. UCF
W 9–0 vs. No 8/9 Washington
L 3–4 vs. No 8/9 Washington
W 8–0 vs. No 8/9 Washington
W 11–0 vs. No 17 Baylor*
W 4–0 vs. No 1 Oregon*
W 6–3 No 17 Baylor*
W 5–0 vs. No 5 Alabama*
W 6–3 vs. No 5 Alabama*
National Champions 		L 0–2 vs. No 11/14 Georgia T-3rd SEC
2015 60–7 18–5 W 6–0 vs. Florida A&M
W 7–0 vs. Hofstra
W 1–0 vs. FAU
W 7–0 vs. No 25 Kentucky
W 1–0 vs. No 25 Kentucky
W 7–2 vs. No 10 Tennessee*
W 4–0 vs. No 8 LSU*
W 3–2 vs. No 4 Auburn*
W 3–2 vs. No 3 Michigan*
L 0–1 vs. No 3 Michigan*
W 4–1 vs. No 3 Michigan*
National Champions 		W 10–2 vs. South Carolina
L 1–2 vs. No 11 Tennessee 		1st SEC
2016 53–5 20–4 W 1–0 vs. Ole Miss
L 1–2 vs. No 8 Auburn 		1st SEC
*Women's College World Series

Player awards

Senior Class Award
Stacey Nelson (2009)[6]
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
Lauren Haeger (2015)[7]
Honda Sport Award
Lauren Haeger (2015)[8]

All-Americans

Stacey Nelson

The Florida Gators softball program has produced 27 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American selections.

  • Chelsey Sakizzie – 1998 3rd team[9]
  • Stacey Nelson – 2007 2nd team
  • Kim Waleszonia – 2007 3rd team
  • Francesca Enea – 2008 2nd team[10]
  • Ali Gardiner – 2008 1st team[11]
  • Stacey Nelson – 2008 1st team[12]
  • Aja Paculba – 2008 2nd team[13]
  • Kim Waleszonia – 2008 3rd team[14]
  • Stephanie Brombacher – 2009 2nd team
  • Kelsey Bruder – 2009 2nd team
  • Francesca Enea – 2009 2nd team
  • Stacey Nelson – 2009 1st team
  • Aja Paculba – 2009 2nd team[15]
  • Francesca Enea – 2010 2nd team[16]
  • Stephanie Brombacher – 2010 3rd team[17]
  • Megan Bush – 2011 1st team[18]
  • Kelsey Bruder – 2011 1st team[19]
  • Brittany Schutte – 2011 1st team[20]
  • Hannah Rogers – 2011 2nd team[21]
  • Aja Paculba – 2011 3rd team[22]
  • Michelle Moultrie – 2011 3rd team[23]
  • Michelle Moultrie – 2012 1st team[24]
  • Hannah Rogers – 2012 2nd team[25]
  • Hannah Rogers – 2013 1st team[26]
  • Lauren Haeger – 2013 1st team[27]
  • Kelsey Stewart – 2014 1st team[28]
  • Hannah Rogers – 2014 3rd team[29]
  • Lauren Haeger – 2015 1st team[30]
  • Kelsey Stewart – 2015 1st team[31]
  • Aleshia Ocasio – 2015 3rd team[32]

Records

Statistic Individual Single Season[33] Individual Career[34] Team Single Game Team Single Season[35]
Hitting Records
Highest Batting Average .407 Ali Gardiner 2008 .351 Aja Paculba – – .323 2009
Highest Slugging Percentage .713 Kelsey Bruder 2009 .595 Francesca Enea – – .543 2009
Highest On Base Percentage .508 Ali Gardiner 2008 .464 Aja Paculba – – .423 2009
Highest Stolen Base Percentage – – .944 Emily Marino – – .858 (97–113) 2000
Most At Bats 249 Kim Waleszonia 2008 813 Lara Pinkerton 43 vs Temple 3/4/1999 1953 2008
Most Runs Scored 69 Aja Paculba 2009 166 Kim Waleszonia 19 vs Florida A&M 4/5/1998 431 2009
Most Hits 88 Kim Waleszonia 2007
Ali Gardiner 2008 		272 Kim Waleszonia 20 vs Florida A&M 4/5/1998 597 2008
Most Doubles 20 Ashley Boone 2001 59 Ashley Boone 6 vs Centenary 2/2/2003
vs LSU 3/29/2008 		102 2008
Most Triples 5 Kristin Sandler 1998
Kim Waleszonia 2007, 2008
Aja Paculba 2009 		17 Kim Waleszonia 4 vs Birmingham-Southern 2/14/2003 17 2003
Most Home Runs 18 Francesca Enea 2009 41 Francesca Enea 6 vs Campbell Fighting Camels 2/19/2010 86 2009
Most Runs Batted In 71 Francesca Enea 2009 157 Francesca Enea – – 396 2009
Most Total Bases 139 Kelsey Bruder 2009 377 Lindsay Cameron 30 vs Kentucky 5/7/2005 925 2009
Most Walks 49 Aja Paculba 2009 138 Emily Marino 12 vs Georgia 3/11/2009 274 2009
Most Times Hit By Pitch 13 Lauren Roussell 2005 32 Lauren Roussell 4 7 Times, Most Recently vs Alabama 5/9/2009 59 2006
Most Times Struck Out 65 Jackie Griffin 1999 169 Lacie Howard 22 vs Tennessee 3/10/2007 383 2006
Most Sacrifice Flies 6 Francesca Enea 2008 11 Francesca Enea 2 14 Times, Most Recently vs Tennessee 5/3/2008 24 2008
Most Sacrifice Hits 21 Nicole Kreipl 2000 48 Nicole Kreipl 5 vs Alabama 4/15/2000 74 2000
Most Stolen Bases 27 Aja Paculba 2009 65 Kim Waleszonia 12 vs Mississippi State 4/27/2003 129 2007
Most Stolen Base Attempts – – 78 Kim Waleszonia 12 vs Mississippi State 4/27/2003 – –
Pitching Records
Lowest ERA 0.61 Stacey Nelson 2009 0.99 Stacey Nelson – – .69 2009
Lowest Opponent Batting Average .146 Jenny Gladding 2004 .174 Jenny Gladding – – .161 2009
Fewest Walks Allowed/7 Innings 0.71 Chelsey Sakizzie 1998 0.81 Chelsey Sakizzie – – 1.22 1997
Most Strikeouts/7 Innings 9.91 Jenny Gladding 2004 8.61 Jenny Gladding – – 8.62 2009
Highest Winning Percentage 1.000 Stephanie Brombacher 2008, 2009 1.000 Stephanie Brombacher – – .933 2008
Most Wins 47 Stacey Nelson 2008 136 Stacey Nelson – – 70 2008
Most Losses 19 Beth Dieter 1999 43 Beth Dieter – – 5
(Fewest) 		2008
2009
Most Saves 5 Stacey Nelson 2006, 2007, 2008 18 Stacey Nelson – – 8 2005
2008
Most Appearances 59 Stacey Nelson 2008 206 Stacey Nelson – – – –
Most Games Started 49 Stacey Nelson 2008 156 Stacey Nelson – – – –
Most Complete Games 43 Stacey Nelson 2008 133 Stacey Nelson – – 54 2000
Most Shutouts 22 Stacey Nelson 2009 58 Stacey Nelson – – 39 2009
Innings Pitched 352.1 Stacey Nelson 2008 1141.1 Stacey Nelson 11.0 3 Times, Most Recently vs Tennessee 5/3/2008 512.1 2000
2008
Most Hits Allowed 263 Beth Dieter 1999 747 Stacey Stevens 21 vs Tennessee 4/2/1999 250
(Fewest) 		2009
Most Doubles Allowed – – – – 6 vs Alabama 3/14/2007 34
(Fewest) 		2009
Most Triples Allowed – – – – 2 10 Times, Most Recently vs Oregon 2/11/2006 1
(Fewest) 		2004
2007
2008
Most Home Runs Allowed – – – – 3 8 Times, Most Recently vs Illinois 2/24/2006 6
(Fewest) 		2009
Most Runs Allowed 125 Beth Dieter 1999 344 Stacey Stevens 18 vs Tennessee 4/2/1999 67
(Fewest) 		2009
Most Earned Runs Allowed 98 Beth Dieter 1999 257 Stacey Stevens 14 vs Tennessee 4/2/1999 44
(Fewest) 		2009
Most Walks Allowed 116 Stacey Nelson 2008 285 Stacey Nelson 11 vs Arkansas 3/25/2000 80
(Fewest) 		1997
Most Strikeouts 363 Stacey Nelson 2008 1116 Stacey Nelson 17 vs Samford 2/20/2000 547 2009
Most Strikeouts Looking 83 Stacey Nelson 2008 249 Stacey Nelson 7 3 Times, Most Recently vs Connecticut 2/28/2004 156 2009
Most Batters Faced 1399 Stacey Nelson 2008 4504 Stacey Nelson 52 vs Tennessee 5/3/2008 2161 2000
Most At Bats Against 1222 Stacey Nelson 2008 3038 Stacey Stevens – – 1905 2000
Most Wild Pitches 21 Renise Landry 2001 49 Renise Landry
Stacey Nelson 		5 vs Georgia 4/13/2002 55 2002
Most Hit Batters 28 Stacey Nelson 2008 83 Stacey Nelson – – 44 2008
Fielding Records
Highest Fielding Percentage 1.000 Ashlie Goble 2003
Brooke Johnson 2007 		.993 Kristina Hilberth – – .977 2009
Lowest Stolen Bases Against Percentage .457 Kristen Butler 2003
Jenny Gladding 2003 		.510 Jenny Gladding – – .517 2003
Most Chances 563 Ali Gardiner 2008 1742 Ashley Boone 54 vs Georgia Southern 3/2/2001 2232 2008
Most Putouts 529 Ali Gardiner 2008 1638 Ashley Boone 33 vs Georgia Southern 3/2/2001 1537 2000
Most Assists 163 Lauren Roussell 2007 544 Jennifer Massadeghi 19 3 Times, Most Recently vs Tennessee 5/3/2008 671 2001
Most Errors 30 Jennifer Massadeghi 2000 66 Jennifer Massadeghi 6 vs LSU 5/13/2005 43
(Fewest) 		2009
Most Double Plays Turned 22 Ali Gardiner 2007 60 Melissa Zick 3 vs Arkansas 3/20/2005 26 2007
Most Caught Stealing By 22 Kristen Butler 2006 61 Kristen Butler 3 3 Times, Most Recently vs Alabama 3/14/2007 29 2003
Most Stolen Bases Against 42 Bobbie Molyneux 1997 112 Emily Marino 8 vs Georgia 4/14/2001 57 2001
Most Passed Balls 15 Kristen Butler 2005 39 Kristen Butler 3 vs Georgia 5/4/1997 16 2005
Most Runners Pickoffed 8 Kristen Butler 2003
Breanne Berger 2002 		22 Kristen Butler – – – –
SEC Single Season Record. NCAA Single Season Record.

See also

References

External links

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