The NCAA College Softball season is officially up and rolling, and we've already seen some pretty impressive performances across all three divisions. This week has been no exception, and we take a look at a few standouts below:
Division 1
Florida now 22-0; Record Breaking Weekend
Gourley and Barnhill’s Historic Effort Headlines Sunday Sweep #GoGators
RECAP: https://t.co/4KxuVlHrZL pic.twitter.com/FJyAKnnv9b
— Gator Softball (@GatorsSB) March 6, 2016
BR-2 Florida is now 22-0 this season, which is tied for the third-best start to a season in school history. The Gators topped BR-135 Illinois State 11-1 in six innings, then disposed of Florida A&M, 4-1, on the final day of the 2016 Aquafina Invitational. Florida captured the Invitational title after posting a 5-0 record this weekend while outscoring its opponents, 44-5.
Gator pitching duo Delanie Gourley and Kelly Barnhill combined for a Florida single-game record 18 strikeouts against the Rattlers in the second game of Florida's doubleheader. Gourley recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched, while Barnhill punched out five – the only five Rattlers she faced.
Florida topped its previous record of 17 strikeouts, which it has achieved twice in school history.
Oklahoma Home Run Barrage
Big day for @fale_aviu as she helps the #Sooners sweep a doubleheader against Dartmouth. pic.twitter.com/k3wn6UDrsS
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) March 6, 2016
Powered by a season-high four home run performance, including two by freshman Fale Aviu, BR-17 Oklahoma (11-4) posted a 9-0, five-inning win over BR-115 Dartmouth (2-6) in game one of their home-opening doubleheader in Norman, Okla.
The victory continued a string of impressive performances in the Sooners’ home openers. All-time, the OU is 38-8 in home openers, and since Marita Hynes Field opened in 1998, they are 19-0. OU has won 22 straight home openers and 27 of its past 28 such contests.
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Division 2
UIndy Stays Unbeaten
BR-14 Indianapolis rounded out a successful Florida trip with a pair of wins on its final day at the PXS Spring Games, in Clermont, Fla. The Greyhounds moved to 12-0 powering past BR-185 Wheeling Jesuit, 6-1, before notching another region win in a 4-1 win versus BR-109 Findlay.
All-American pitcher Morgan Foley moved her record to a perfect 9-0 with another lights-out performance in the circle. Foley notched ten Ks, giving up just three hits and two walks, as the Cardinals were held scoreless through the first 5 2/3 innings before breaking the shutout with a single run late in the sixth.
In the nightcap, pitcher Miranda Tamayo had another quality start, punching out 11 and walking two to move to 4-0 on the year. The Oliers' only run was an unearned tally in the fourth. Tamayo has not allowed an earned run in 19 1/3 consecutive innings.
FINAL | #2 @UIndySoftball remains unbeaten with a 4-1 win vs Findlay. 2 wins today, 6 in Florida, 13 for the season pic.twitter.com/5qlwV02YdX
— UIndy Athletics (@UIndyAthletics) March 6, 2016
Shane Starkey – West Texas A&M
NFCA Player of the Week
.@WTSoftball's rookie Shayne Starkey named @sluggernation NFCA DII National POTW https://t.co/K7USEVk6Vo pic.twitter.com/0grKGvZeNu
— NFCA (@NFCAorg) March 2, 2016
After a monster weekend at the plate for BR-1 West Texas A&M, first baseman Shayne Starkey was named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II National Player of the Week for last week.
The freshman hit .667 with three doubles and a triple to drive in six runs to go along with five walks and no strikeouts, and posted a slugging percentage of 1.222 and an on-base clip of .786. She also crossed the plate seven times in her nine at-bats on the weekend as the Lady Buffs swept BR-44 Tarleton State to move to 20-0.
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Division 3
Washington U Wins #500 on Pitkin's second perfect game/fourth no-hitter of the year
.@WUSTLSoftball Annie Pitkin registered the second perfect game and fourth no-hitter of her career. @NFCAorg pic.twitter.com/fHNsWunsC1
— WashU Bears (@WASHUBears) March 5, 2016
BR-85 Washington U picked up the program's 500th career victory with a pair of wins at The Spring Games Saturday in Clermont, Fla.
WashU senior hurler Annie Pitkin threw a perfect game, striking out 14 during a 10-0 five-inning win over BR-184 Bethany in the opener, and then the Bears recorded 15 hits in a 13-2 five-inning victory over Austin College in game two to notch the program’s 500th all-time victory.
Against Bethany, Pitkin struck out 14 of 15 batters she faced en route to her second perfect game and fourth no-hitter of her career. She has a 3-0 record this year and has not allowed a run in 17 innings pitched with 38 strikeouts.
