OGT-Softball Florida vs Boston U 2/10/2023 7:00 pm

FLORIDA (0-0)
RANKING (NFCA/USA SOFTBALL): 4/5
HEAD COACH: TIM WALTON
CAREER RECORD: 1,011-265 (.792) RECORD at UF: 888-201 (.81)

BOSTON UNIVERSITY (0-0)
RANKING (NFCA/USA SOFTBALL): NR/NR
HEAD COACH: Ashley Waters
CAREER RECORD: 219-120 (.646) RECORD at BU: 219-120 (.646)
BU vs. UF RECORD: UF Leads 2-1 (.667)
LAST MEETING: May 17, 2019 | UF 3, BU 0 (7 Innings) *NCAA Regional

BOSTON COLLEGE (0-0)
RANKING (NFCA/USA SOFTBALL): NR/NR
HEAD COACH: Amy Kvilhaug
CAREER RECORD: 450-519-1 (.464) RECORD at BC: 42-71 (.372)
BC vs. UF RECORD: UF Leads 1-0 (1.000)
LAST MEETING: March 4, 2014 | UF 7, BC 3 (7 Innings)

ILLINOIS STATE (0-0)
RANKING (NFCA/USA SOFTBALL): NR/NR
HEAD COACH: Tina Kramos
CAREER RECORD: 0-0 RECORD at ISU: 0-0
UF vs. ISU RECORD: UF Leads 16-2 (.889)
LAST MEETING: February 11, 2022 | UF 3, ISU 0 (7 Innings)

USF (0-0)
RANKING (NFCA/USA SOFTBALL): NR/NR
HEAD COACH: Ken Eriksen
CAREER RECORD: 1,051-537-1 (.662) RECORD at USF: 1,051-537-1 (.662)
USF vs. UF RECORD: UF Leads 59-13 (.819)
LAST MEETING: April 20, 2022 | UF 1, USF 0 (7 Innings)

 

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Broadcast INfO
FRIDAY
AUDIO: ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM WRUF & FLORIDAGATORS.COM & THE VARSITY NETWORK
VIDEO: NONE

SATURDAY
AUDIO: ESPN 98.1 FM/850 AM WRUF & FLORIDAGATORS.COM & THE VARSITY NETWORK
VIDEO: NONE

SUNDAY
AUDIO: FLORIDAGATORS.COM & THE VARSITY NETWORK
VIDEO: ESPN+

FLORIDA
BATTING AVERAGE: (.392) Kendra Falby WINS: (17) Elizabeth Hightower
HITS: (85) Kendra Falby SAVES: (4) Rylee Trlicek
RUNS: (79) Skylar Wallace ERA: (2.26) Lexi Delbrey
RBI: (59) Charla Echols Ks: (133) Elizabeth Hightower

BOSTON UNIVERSITY
BATTING AVERAGE: (.431) Kayla Roncin WINS: (22) Allison Boaz
HITS: (81) Kayla Roncin SAVES: (2) Allison Boaz
RUNS: (49) Kayla Roncin ERA: (1.42) Allison Boaz
RBI: (46) Emily Gant STRIKEOUTS: (191) Lizzy Aver

 

THE FIRST PITCH
​

• The University of Florida softball team begins its 2023 campaign
at the USF-Rawlings Invitational Friday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. against
Boston University. The Gators are scheduled to play four games
opening weekend which also include Boston College, Illinois State
and host USF.

• The Gators enter the 2023 season after the program achieved its 11th
Women’s College World Series berth last season. The Orange & Blue
advanced to Oklahoma City from the Super Regional round with a
2-1 series victory on the road at Virginia Tech. It’s only the second
time in program history that UF competed on the road as a lower
seed in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament.

• Since 2013, Florida has made it to the WCWS seven times out of nine
available opportunities. That number puts the program tied for the
second most in the nation over that span. Overall, UF’s 11 WCWS
appearances rank tied for 10th all-time in the nation.

• Last year Florida was tied with Oregon State for fielding the
youngest starting lineup at the Women’s College World Series, with
four freshmen and two sophomores, and despite three key loses
the Gators return 16 players from that 2022 WCWS squad. UF also
added two graduate transfers in Samantha Bender and Pal Egan to
the roster along with two true freshmen in Olivia Gigante and Kaila
Pollard. This season the roster boasts five graduates, three seniors
and five juniors.

• Of those returning players, three have garnered multiple preseason
recognitions. The trio of Skylar Wallace, Charla Echols and Kendra
Falby were name to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
Top 50 “Watch List” in addition to spots on the 2023 Preseason
All-SEC Team and selections as Softball America and D1Softball
Preseason All-Americans.

• Skylar Wallace, a 2022 NFCA Second Team All-American, had a
season for the history books last year as she became the only
known player, since 2001, in DI softball history to register at least
70+ runs, 70+ hits, 50+ RBI and 50+ stolen bases in a single-season.
In addition, she also recorded more than 50 walks last year too.

 

Gators Tabbed No.2 D1Softball
​

The Florida softball program earned the No.2 spot in D1Softball’s
Top 50 programs. The publication determined the rankings after
it considered a variety of factors including success over the past
decade, current success and projected outlook over the next five
to 10 years.

The Gators have been one of the most consistent programs in de-
veloping players and performing at the national level. Over the past
decade, excluding the shortened 2020 season, the Orange & Blue is
only one of two teams to win multiple national championships and
play in the championship series at least three times. The program
won back-to-back titles in 2014 & 2015 and followed up with its fifth
overall championship appearance, third in the last four seasons,
in 2017.

In addition, the program is tied for the second most Women’s
College World Series appearances and the second most USA Softball
Player of the Year award winners during that span with seven and
two respectively. Lauren Haeger won the coveted award in 2015 as
she led the Gators to their second consecutive national champion-
ship, while Kelly Barnhill turned in a historic season during the 2017
season to earn the honor of the nation’s best player.

Florida Predicted Preseason Favorites for SEC Title
The Florida softball team was announced Thursday as the 2023
Southeastern Conference preseason favorite to win the league after
votes from the 13 SEC head coaches were gathered and tallied by
the league office.

The Gators received five first-place votes and accumulated 134
points to lead the way, while Tennessee followed in second place
after it earned three first-place votes and 126 points. Arkansas, the
2022 SEC Champions, also notched five first-place votes but only 122
points. Alabama and LSU rounded out the top five with 118 and 87
points respectively.

Points were compiled on a descending basis. Coaches were not
allowed to vote for their own team

Place School Points
1. Florida (5) 134
2. Tennessee (3) 126
3. Arkansas (5) 122
4. Alabama 118
5. LSU 87
6. Georgia 85
7. Kentucky 84
8. Missouri 63
9. Auburn 61
10. Ole Miss 49
11. Mississippi State 44
12. Texas A&M 28
13. South Carolina 13

 

USA Softball Top 50 “Watch List”
Charla Echols Third Base Graduate Senior
Skylar Wallace Infield Redshirt-Junior
Kendra Falby Outfield Sophomore

Softball America Preseason All-Americans
Skylar Wallace Second Team DP/UTL Non-Pitcher
Charla Echols Third Team Third Base
Kendra Falby Second Team At-Large

D1Softball Preseason All-Americans
Skylar Wallace First Team
Kendra Falby Second Team

Preseason All-SEC
Skylar Wallace Infield
Charla Echols Third Base
Kendra Falby Outfield

D1Softball.com Top 100
Skylar Wallace Infield No. 16
Charla Echols Third Base No. 35
Kendra Falby Outfield No. 41
Pal Egan Utility No. 93

Softball America Top 100
Skylar Wallace Infield No. 13
Charla Echols Third Base No. 25
Kendra Falby Outfield No. 41
Pal Egan Utility No. 87

Extra Inning Softball Top 100
Skylar Wallace Infield No. 23
Charla Echols Third Base No. 34
Kendra Falby Outfield No. 35

 

Tim Walton
Tim Walton has established Florida softball as a national powerhouse
as he finished his 17th year at the helm of the Gators squad. Walton
reached a historic milestone during the Gators 2022 campaign as he
became the second-fastest head coach to reach 1,000 career NCAA
Division I softball victories with 2-1 (9 inning) win at LSU on May 1. In
addition, Walton led the Gators to its 11th overall Women’s College World
Series appearance after the Orange & Blue defeated No.3-seed Virginia Tech in Blacksburg during the
NCAA Super Regional round. During the 2019 season, the Gators became back-to-back SEC
Tournament Champions for the second time in program history and Walton navigated the program through a shortened 2020 campaign due to COVID-19 with a 23-4, 3-0 SEC record and a No. 7
national ranking. With an incredible record of 839-182 (.822) at Florida, the
five-time SEC Coach of the Year has led the Orange and Blue to 361 school records and numerous other SEC records, and his squads have earned various firsts for the Gator softball program.
By the end of the 2008 season, the Gators had set the NCAA single-season record for wins (70) and the SEC single-season record (27). In 2018, the program set the NCAA record for walks
(360) in a season.

In 2018, Florida became only the second SEC program to win
four straight SEC Regular Season Championships and now holds a league leading nine titles, eight of which have come under Walton’s guidance. In 2017, Walton and his staff earned their fifth
NFCA Southeast Coaching Staff of the Year award and the team finished the season leading the nation in ERA (0.81) and fielding percentage (.985) for the second consecutive season. With back-to-back national titles in 2014 and 2015, Walton’s Gators are one of only four teams to have achieved the feat in consecutive seasons. The five time SEC Coach of the Year recipient, has led his squads to 16 NCAA Regional appearances, 14 Super Regionals, 11
Women’s College World Series berths, eight SEC Regular Season Championships and five SEC Tournament Championships. Since 2006, the Orange & Blue have appeared in a nation’s best five
WCWS championship series appearances. That success led to a 2015 NFCA Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year award and five NFCA Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year selections.

Under Walton’s tutelage, Gator softball student-athletes have earned 46 NFCA All-American honors, 67 All-SEC honors, two USA Softball Player of the Year recipients, three Honda Award winners,
10 SEC Player & Pitcher of the Year honorees and one NFCA Freshman of the Year.
The Gators have not only excelled on the field but in the classroom as well under Walton. Since 2006, Florida student-athletes have achieved 18 CoSIDA Academic All-American honors, 127 appearances on the SEC Academic Honor Roll and 55 SEC Academic Honor Roll First-Year recipients.
Prior to arriving at Florida, he took Wichita State to the NCAA
Tournament in 2005 where his team finished with a school single-season record 46 wins (46-18). After three seasons with the Shockers he amassed a record of 123-64.

Walton has been a part of national championship teams as a baseball player, an assistant softball coach and a head softball coach. Before heading to take his first head coaching position at
Wichita State, Walton served as an assistant softball coach for the University of Oklahoma, as the hitting coach and outfielders coach. In his four seasons at OU, the Sooners won three Big 12
titles and made three consecutive WCWS appearances, including
winning the 2000 NCAA title.

Outside the collegiate ranks, Walton has continuously prepared
his student-athletes for success. 14 Gators have went on to play
in National Pro Fastpitch league and nine players have been
selected to various national teams including the United States,
Puerto Rico and Mexico.

After graduating from Oklahoma with a degree in history, Walton
played in the Philadelphia Phillies organization from 1995-97.
Walton is married to the former Samantha Rhoten, who was a
basketball player at Oral Roberts. The couple has two sons, Brooks
and Palmer, and a daughter, Camden.

 

Much more here
2-9-23 USF Tournament Notes (PDF) - Florida Gators

 

Florida softball opens the 2023 season in Tampa at the USF-Rawlings Invitational Friday night at 7 p.m. against Boston University.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The No.4-ranked Florida softball is set to open the 2023 season at the USF-Rawlings Invitational this Friday through Sunday at the USF Softball Stadium.

The Gators return a plethora of players from last year's 2022 Women's College World Series squad and look to use that experience to put together a successful 2023 campaign that includes plenty of goals including a return trip back to Oklahoma City.

That journey begins Friday, Feb. 10, at 7 p.m. against Boston University. The Gators and the Terriers, the preseason favorite to win the Patriot League, have only met on the diamond in three previous occasions with the most recent occurring in 2019 when the Orange and Blue dispatched BU 3-0 in the NCAA Gainesville Regional.

Florida is also slated to play Boston College and Illinois State Saturday at 11:30 and 2 p.m. respectively and will close out the invitational Sunday against host USF at 1 p.m. The Gators and the Bulls matchup is set to be streamed via ESPN+.

The Gators history with Boston College is brief as this weekend will serve as the two programs have only met once before in Gainesville during the 2014 season where the Gators dispatched the Eagles 7-3 during a regular season matchup. However, Illinois State is very familiar opponent for the Orange & Blue as the two squads will meet for the 18th time overall and the 10th time since 2017 to which UF holds a 16-2 advantage in the overall record book.

The series history with USF runs the deepest as Sunday's matchup will be the 73rd all-time meeting with UF holding a 59-13 record overall and a 26-3 record when playing in Tampa.

This year's Gators squad returns a high-powered offense that posted a team .314 average at the plate, which is the highest batting average by a UF squad throughout a full season since the 2016 team posted a .312 average, and a program record 132 stolen bases.

Leading the way at the plate is 2022 NFCA Second Team All-American Skylar Wallace and 2021 NFCA First Team All-American Charla Echols along with breakout stars Kendra Falby, Katie Kistler, Reagan Walsh, Sam Roe and Avery Goelz.

In the circle for the Gators, the program brings back 2021 NFCA Third Team All-American Elizabeth Hightower along with key contributors to the Gators run to last season's WCWS in Rylee Trlicek and Lexie Delbrey.

Additionally, a few familiar faces are poised for breakout seasons this year as Baylee Goddard and Sarah Longley look to make a significant impact. While UF looks to see production from the four newcomers the program welcomed in the offseason. Graduate transfers right-handed pitcher Samantha Bender and utility player Pal Egan along with freshman first base/right-handed pitcher Olivia Gigante and freshman infielder Kaila Pollard are poised to provide depth in the circle and the lineup this year.

Once the Gators conclude opening weekend they will set their sights on Jacksonville with a home-and-home set for Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. in Jacksonville and the 2023 home opener Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m.

FOLLOW THE GATORS
FloridaGators.com
Florida Softball on Twitter
Head Coach Tim Walton on Twitter
Florida Softball on Facebook

 

Is anyone getting the radio feed?

 

Ocala answered my question

 

There are five teams in the tournament Michigan is not there.