Aleshia Ocasio becomes first UF pitcher to throw a seven inning no hitter in postseason history
Aleshia Ocasio becomes first UF pitcher to throw a seven-inning no-hitter in postseason history NCAA.com
: — Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) What a performance in the circle tonight! Hear from following her rd career solo no-hitter! — Gators Softball (@GatorsSB)
"I felt really good with all my pitches," she said. "Obviously, my off-speed was working well on multiple planes. I felt like the mix of pitches was really good and that I competed on every pitch." With two outs in the seventh, Ocasio threw eight straight balls and walked back-to-back batters, giving the Buckeyes their first threat of the game.
CHAMPS
PRESENTED BY GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The game was supposed to start at noon, but the May rains of North Florida pushed back Sunday's NCAA Tournament regional championship round to a 7:04 p.m. first pitch. If only Aleshia Ocasio had been properly prepared for such a delay. Moments before her first deliver from the circle, Ocasio realized she wasn't wearing her wrist band that holds the card with the coaches' pitching-sign codes. "I can't blame the delay," she said. "I just forgot." It was the only mistake "Lele" made all night. After walking to the dugout to get the band, removing the card from her back pocket and the sliding it onto her wrist, Ocasio went to work like no Gator pitcher had ever done before in NCAA play. Not Stacey Nelson. Not Stephanie Brombacher. Not Hannah Rodgers. Not Lauren Haeger. Not even flame-throwing teammate Kelly Barnhill. BRACKETS: "Phenomenal," teammate Amanda Lorenz said. "And nasty." Lorenz was watching from left field, so imagine what Ohio State's batters were thinking as Ocasio mowed through their order, striking out a season-high 12, on the way to throwing the first seven-inning postseason no-hitter in UF softball history, a 4-0 shutout victory at Pressly Stadium. Florida pitchers had thrown no-hitters in NCAA play before (Barnhill and Ocasio, in fact, combined for one Friday in five innings against Bethune-Cookman), but in mercy-rule games versus overmatched opponents. What a weekend full of fight, fun & amazing performances! Now it's time for Super Regionals! — Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) This was a Big Ten Conference foe, for a full seven innings, on a night her own team only managed two hits and couldn't really breathe easy until a two-run rally in the sixth. Ocasio had magnificent control with her low-ball location and wicked change-up, as only three Buckeyes reached base, all on walks. Oh, and she also had half her team's four RBI, as the fourth-ranked Gators (53-8), the tournament's No. 4 overall seed, clinched a home Super Region next weekend and continued their quest for a ninth trip to the Women's College World Series in the last 11 seasons. RELATED: Photos from last night's 4-0 win against Ohio State:: — Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) What a performance in the circle tonight! Hear from following her rd career solo no-hitter! — Gators Softball (@GatorsSB)
"I felt really good with all my pitches," she said. "Obviously, my off-speed was working well on multiple planes. I felt like the mix of pitches was really good and that I competed on every pitch." With two outs in the seventh, Ocasio threw eight straight balls and walked back-to-back batters, giving the Buckeyes their first threat of the game.