Season Recap: 2015 Florida Gators Softball Champs Again
The 2015 Florida Gator Softball campaign was even more successful than the first championship run a year ago. After losing just two seniors to graduation, the team was able to rip off a 60-7 (18-6 in SEC play) overall record for the season. All but one of those losses (Michigan in the WCWS Finals) were to SEC opponents.
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In addition to winning 60 games, here is what else the Gator softball team and some of its players accomplished:
- 4 SEC series sweeps (South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, & Texas A&M)
- A season series sweep of rival Florida State (5-1 & 5-0)
- Defeated 12 teams ranked in the final ESPN.com/USA Softball polls
- Posted a 10-1 record in the NCAA Tournament (5-1 in the Women’s College World Series)
- Became the third team in NCAA history to win back-to-back National Championships
Individual Awards & Honors
- SEC Player of the Year
- 2B – Kelsey Stewart (Junior)
- SEC Pitcher of the Year & USA Softball National Player of the Year
- P – Lauren Haeger (Senior)
- NFCA Southeast All-Region First Team
- P – Lauren Haeger (Senior)
- OF – Kirsti Merritt (Junior)
- P – Aleshia Ocasio (Freshman)
- NFCA Southeast All-Region Second Team
- 2B – Kelsey Stewart (Junior)
- NFCA First Team All-Americans
- P – Lauren Haeger (Senior)
- 2B – Kelsey Stewart (Junior)
- NFCA Third Team All-American
- P – Aleshia Ocasio (Freshman)
- First Team All-SEC
- P – Lauren Haeger (Senior)
- 2B – Kelsey Stewart (Junior)
- OF – Kirsti Merritt (Junior)
- Freshman All-SEC
- P – Aleshia Ocasio
- IF – Nicole DeWitt
- SEC All-Defensive Team
- 2B – Kelsey Stewart (Junior)
- SS – Kathlyn Medina (Senior)
- NFCA National Coaching Staff of Year
- Head Coach Tim Walton and the entire Florida Gator coaching staff
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The Title Run:
After Tennessee bounced Florida early from the SEC Tournament, the Gators went on a tear. They received the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, and ripped through Florida A&M, Hofstra, and FAU in the Gainesville Regional. In the Gainesville Super Regional, they swept Kentucky to earn a return trip back to the Women’s College World Series.
In Oklahoma City, #1 Florida’s SEC tests were far from over as they defeated Tennessee 7-2 and LSU 4-0 to set up a date with Auburn in the semifinals. In nine innings, the Gators used a walk-off single from true freshman Nicole DeWitt to beat Auburn 3-2 and advance to their second consecutive Women’s College World Series Finals.
In the Finals against the Michigan Wolverines, the Gators won Game 1 by a score of 3-2 before suffering their first NCAA Tournament defeat with a 1-0 loss in Game 2. In the do-or-die Game 3, an early Gator rally propelled the Orange and Blue to a 4-1 victory and a second consecutive National Championship.
Now that I have listed the team’s accolades and relived their thrilling championship ride in Oklahoma City, let’s take a look at the players who helped Florida reach the promise land for the second straight year:
Offense
Hits: Kelsey Stewart (101) (Junior)
RBI’s: Lauren Haeger (71) (Senior)
Home Runs: Lauren Haeger (19) (Senior)
Batting Average: Kelsey Stewart (.435) (Junior)
Slugging %: Bailey Castro (.707) (Senior)
On Base %: Bailey Castro (.536) (Senior)
Stolen Bases: Kelsey Stewart (71) (Junior)
Runs Scored: Kelsey Stewart (68) (Junior)
Strikeouts: Taylore Fuller (52) (Junior)
Walks: Lauren Haeger (49) (Senior)
Defense
Assists: Kathlyn Medina (107) (Senior)
Putouts: Aubree Munro (354) (Junior)
Errors: Taylore Fuller (8) (Junior)
Pitching
Wins: Lauren Haeger (32) (Senior)
Losses: Aleshia Ocasio (3) (Freshman)
Strikeouts: Lauren Haeger (214) (Senior)
ERA: Lauren Haeger (1.23) (Senior)
Saves: Delanie Gourley (5) (Sophomore)
Appearances: Lauren Haeger (41) (Senior)
The Florida Gators lose six seniors to graduation with the headliner being Lauren Haeger. She was an absolute beast as she led the Gators in home runs and RBI’s (as the stats above indicate). In her four-year career, she became the first and only softball player in NCAA history to hit over 70 home runs and win over 70 games. Only one other player before her had accomplished such a feat, and his name was Babe Ruth.
Haeger was named the Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player after batting .500 (8-16) with 7 RBI’s, and five runs scored. Pitching-wise, she threw 36 innings and gave up a total of six earned runs for an ERA of 1.50. She struck out 20 batters in total.
With the departure of Haeger and company, I still believe the Gators are in a good position to win a third consecutive National Championship. Freshman Aleshia Ocasio won 18 games this season with one of those victories coming in Game 1 of the WCWS Finals. As the role of ace changed from Hannah Rogers to Lauren Haeger after the first championship, it is now time for Haeger to pass the torch to Ocasio.
As for the Gator lineup, a majority of the team will be back as juniors and seniors. The 2016 Gator softball squad will be loaded with upperclassmen who know how to win and an incoming freshmen class eager to be a part of a dynasty.
Congrats again to the 2015 Florida Gator softball team! Back-to-back National Champions!
*All stats and info accredited to Gatorzone.com, nfca.org, & secsports.com