Sports | Softball - The Independent Florida Alligator

Hannah Rogers pitches during UF's 17-1 win against USF on April 23 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Rogers was named the 2014 Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year and finished her senior season with a 30-8 record and a 1.60 ERA.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida blanks Oregon to reach Women's College World Series semifinals

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 30, 2014

The Gators are rolling through the competition.

Chelsea Herndon bats during Florida's 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. On Thusday, Herndon hit a pinch-hit grand slam to force a run-rule victory in Florida's 11-0 win against Baylor in the first game of the Women's College World Series.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Freshman hits grand slam to cap Florida's run-rule victory over Baylor

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 29, 2014

In her first career Women's College World Series at-bat on Thursday, Chelsea Herndon saw a familiar face.

Tim Walton studies the field during Florida’s 11-1 win against USF on May 18, 2013, at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Walton and the Gators open play in the Women's College World Series against Baylor at noon.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Softball set to square off in Women’s College World Series

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 28, 2014

They’re back.

Alabama outfielder Andrea Hawkins cheers as the softball team gathers its bags before boarding a flight to Oklahoma City for the NCAA Women's College World Series on Tuesday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Breaking down the Women’s College World Series field

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 28, 2014

Eight teams remain in the hunt for the title as the top softball team in the country. Each team took different paths to make it, but in the end, they all made it to Oklahoma City. With action beginning today, alligatorSports took a look at each opening-round matchup.

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

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Walton’s women win wet one, advance to World Series

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 25, 2014

Kirsti Merritt just wanted to finish it.

Hannah Rogers pitches during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida blanks Washington, moves one step closer to WCWS appearance

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 24, 2014

No. 5 seed Florida outscored its opponents 29-0 in the regional round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

Delanie Gourley pitches from the circle in Florida’s 2-0 victory against Ole Miss on March 9 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The freshman pitcher tossed the program’s first postseason no-hitter Friday in UF’s 8-0 win against Florida A&M during the NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Three-person pitching rotation boosts UF to Super Regional

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 19, 2014

After UF defeated UCF 7-0 in the final game of the Gainesville Regional on Sunday to advance to its seventh NCAA Super Regional in program history, coach Tim Walton took a moment to remember former Gators pitcher Stacey Nelson.

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

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida sweeps NCAA Regional, hosts Washington in Super Regionals

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 18, 2014

Lauren Haeger set the tone for UF in the Gainesville NCAA Regional final against UCF in more ways than one.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Strong offense, pitching leads Gators to NCAA Regional finals

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 17, 2014

The Gators emptied the dugout in its second NCAA Regional matchup on Saturday.

Delanie Gourley pitches during Florida's 7-6 win against Auburn on April 5 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Gourley threw her first collegiate no-hitter in UF's 8-0 win against FAMU on Friday in the NCAA Regionals.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Gourley pitches no-hitter in UF's NCAA Regional opener

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 16, 2014

Delanie Gourley was calm on the mound in her first career NCAA Tournament start on Friday.

Kelsey Stewart bats during Florida's 7-6 win against Auburn on April 5 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Stewart finished her sophomore season with a team-best .438 batting average while setting UF's single-season record for hits (102) and tying her record for stolen bases (36).

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Stewart leads UF's offense into NCAA tournament play

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 15, 2014

It’s been a common motif all season: Florida goes where Kelsey Stewart goes.

Tim Walton looks on during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Walton and UF begins the NCAA Tournament on Friday.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida to host FAMU in NCAA Regional Round

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 12, 2014

Coach Tim Walton was not worried about Florida’s postseason future after exiting the Southeastern Conference tournament on Thursday after one game.

The Gators softball team huddles together prior to the start of Florida's 2-0 win against Ole Miss on March 9 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida eliminated from SEC softball tournament after shutout loss to Georgia

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 8, 2014

Upsets highlighted the Southeastern Conference softball tournament quarterfinals heading into No. 4 seed Florida’s matchup against fifth-seeded Georgia.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball sweeps Arkansas, looks toward SEC Tournament

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 4, 2014

Florida finished the regular season on a high note in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Haeger leads Gators to series win over Razorbacks with complete game shutout

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 3, 2014

Lauren Haeger continues to prove that she is a dual threat.

Kelsey Stewart swings during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22, 2014 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Florida softball uses strong start to defeat Arkansas

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | May 2, 2014

In its final regular season Southeastern Conference home series against Missouri last weekend, Florida started all three games from behind.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Haeger dominates in circle, at plate

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 26, 2014

After Florida dropped its first contest 5-3 to Missouri on Friday, Lauren Haeger brought the Gators back to its winning ways.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

UF run rules USF for 10th-straight win

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 24, 2014

Since Florida’s road sweep against Texas A&M last weekend — a series that saw the Gators bat .400 as a team — one phrase is circling around the team: hitting is contagious.

Taylor Schwarz bats during Florida’s 8-0 win against Indiana on Feb. 22 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Schwarz is batting .281 and has six home runs in 45 games this season.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

First baseman surging during Gators’ six-game win streak

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 17, 2014

Taylor Schwarz is on a hot streak.

Justine McLean bats during Florida’s 2-0 win against Ole Miss on March 9 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.

SPORTS | SOFTBALL

Freshmen integrating well into established Gators roster

By JORDAN MCPHERSON | Apr. 16, 2014

Florida surprised many in 2013.