Preview: Gator Softball Gears Up for Alabama in Super Regional

The top-ranked Florida softball team starts play in its Super Regional on Thursday at home and will face a familiar foe in the Alabama Crimson Tide.  Florida, 53-7, won its NCAA Regional last weekend at home to advance and Alabama did the same at home.  This will be the 67th time the two teams have met, but the first time for the 2017 season.

The Tide’s Strength

Alabama is 45-16 on the season. The Gators are 31-35 when facing them, but hope to change that number on Thursday night. Last weekend, In its regional, Alabama knocked off a Minnesota team that had won 54 games on the season with excellent pitching and sound defense.

Their offense deserves credit too.  Alabama’s Chandler Dare and Marisa Runyon are a duo that reminds Gator fans of the Amanda Lorenz/ Nicole DeWitt pairing at the top of the lineup. The Tide had offensive issues in its regional and if both teams play to their strengths we might not see a lot of runs scored in this Super Regional.

Florida’s Confidence

Three of Florida’s pitchers have been in the top 10 in several national pitching categories throughout this season. Kelly Barnhill, Delaine Gourley, and two-way player Aleshia Ocasio all have dominated from the circle. In Florida’s first two games of its NCAA Regional, the Gators gave up a total of one hit.   In fact, the Gators allowed only one run in four games.

Florida’s offense has been a bit up and down, especially in the postseason.  But when it is right, the Gators get runners on base, use small ball to move runners along and then get timely hits to drive home the runs.   Florida is capable of the long ball as well as Amanda Lorenz leads the team in homers with 10 and hits .379 usually hitting in the leadoff spot but usually runs have come from stringing hits together and using the stolen base and other small ball tactics.

Super Regional Notes

• This is the first time the two teams will meet in the NCAA Super Regional round
• Florida has a 15-5 (.750) record in Super Regional Play
• This is the 10^th overall Super Regional appearance by the Gators
• The Gators advanced to the WCWS seven out of nine last times
• The Crimson Tide will be the fourth SEC team that the Gators will face in a Super Regional. The previous teams were Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Georgia.

This Super Regional round will put out eight teams across the country and those eight will head to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series the first week of June.This weekend fans can expect a full stadium and a great game. The games in Gainesville will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, 7 p.m. on Friday, and 5 p.m. on Saturday if necessary. All three will be aired on ESPN.