Softball often comes down to pitching at the end of the day. Get a pitcher that can lock down opposing hitters, prevent them from even getting on base or getting the bat on the ball.
That is the best way to win and the best teams in the nation in softball have the best pitchers.
The two-time defending champion Florida Gators have three pitchers to pick one. Who takes the circle for Wednesday’s matchup with UCF at the UCF Softball Complex is anybody’s guess. But each one could shut down a Knights offense that has relied on scratching out hits and moving runners over.
The Knights will have their ace in the circle too and she is not too shabby either. Shelby Turnier has faced a tougher schedule than she has ever faced, but still is good at one thing — getting batters out and giving the Knights every chance to win.
It will make for a classic battle between old rivals Wednesday.
The Knights and Gators have played at least once every season since 2008 and have played in the NCAA Tournament in 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014. In 2005, UCF eliminated Florida from the tournament which led Florida to make a coaching chance and hire Tim Walton.
Under Walton, the Gators have risen to the top of college softball and have drawn comparisons to UConn Women Basketball with the current run the Gators are in. The Gators are looking to make history becoming the first school in 30 years to three-peat as National Champions.
Facing top teams in college softball is nothing new to UCF who has been tested this season. The Knights have already played 13 teams in the Top 25 of the NFCA Rankings. UCF coming into the week have the 23rd toughest schedule in the country which will only go up after Wednesday.
The focus throughout the game will be on the pitchers. Both teams are strong in pitching with Florida ranking first in the country in fielding percentage (.982) and best earned run average (0.85) in the nation.
Orlando native Aleshia Ocasio lead the Gators with her NCAA-best 0.42 ERA (0.42). Delanie Gourley (0.86) is No. 4 in ERA in the country. The Gators also have freshman phenom pitcher Kelly Barnhill, who was softball’s No. 1 recruit coming out of high school. Barnhill is fourth in strikeouts per game (10.9). In addition, UF’s pitching staff has combined to allow the fewest runs in the SEC (37) and record the most strikeouts (311).
Any of those three could take the circle to take on the Knights on Wednesday.
There will be no doubt who will be pitching for the Knights in this battle. UCF ranks 12th in the country in ERA and are led by Shelby Turnier, who last year was first team All-American and led the country in ERA (0.87). This year, Turnier has pitched against 13 ranked teams, which is one of main reasons her numbers are up compared to last season — her ERA has risen to 2.38 this year.
Turnier did beat Alabama earlier this season as UCF did something that Florida could not do this past weekend — beating Crimson Tide pitcher Sydney LittleJohn.
Turnier enters the contest with 70 career wins at UCF which ranks her third behind Mackenzie Audas (78) and Allison Kime (71). Kime’s 71st and last win came against then-No. 1 Florida at the 2008 Regionals in Gainesville 1-0, snapping Florida’s then-37 straight wins and 44 in a row in Gainesville.
It put the Knights within one win away from the Super Regional. But UCF’s run would end in the next game losing to Florida in the double elimination tournament.
That was the year the Gators started run they are currently in. The Gators have made the Women’s College World Series every year since 2008 except for the 2012 season.
There is a lot of history between these two teams clearly. And the game should have a ton of meaning for statewide bragging rights in addition to national implications for both teams and they jockey for early positioning for the NCAA Softball Tournament.
The game itself is already creating its own buzz, adding to the rivalry feel.
The record for attendance at the UCF Softball Complex is 1,091 fans back in 2010 when UCF lost in extra innings to Florida.
This will be the Knights second sellout of the season as the Knights sold out the season opening game against Alabama back on Feb. 12. The Knights, then-ranked No. 17, knocked off No. 5 Alabama 8-1. It was the second time UCF beat a top-five team at home. The other time came on April 11, 2012 when Mackenzie Audas as a freshman threw a 2-hit shutout of No. 3 Gators 2-0.
That is the last time the Knights have beaten the Gators.
This will be another opportunity to assert some dominance in the circle and make a name nationally on the softball scene.
You can watch the game on UCFKnights.com with the voice of UCF Softball Eric Lopez on the call.
Eric Lopez contributed to this report.
