The Florida softball program was declared the No.2 overall program in the nation based off recent success and the outlook over the next five to 10 years.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida softball program earned the No.2 spot in D1Softball’s Top 50 programs<https://d1softball.com/> as the publication announced the ranking Thursday morning. The publication determined the rankings after it considered a variety of factors including success over the past decade, current success and projected outlook over the next five to 10 years.
The Gators have been one of the most consistent programs in developing players and performing at the national level. Over the past decade, excluding the shortened 2020 season, the Orange & Blue is only one of two teams to win multiple national championships and play in the championship series at least three times. The program won back-to-back titles in 2014 & 2015 and followed up with its fifth overall championship appearance, third in the last four seasons, in 2017.
In addition, the program is tied for the second most Women’s College World Series appearances and the second most USA Softball Player of the Year award winners during that span with seven and two respectively. Lauren Haeger won the coveted award in 2015 as she led the Gators to their second consecutive national championship, while Kelly Barnhill turned in a historic season during the 2017 season to earn the honor of the nation’s best player.
Joining Haeger and Barnhill as influential players are a plethora of NFCA All-Americans. The program rostered two four-time All-Americans in Hannah Rogers and Amanda Lorenz during that span along with the likes of Michelle Moultrie, Kelsey Stewart, Aleshia Ocasio, Delanie Gourley, Kayli Kvistad, Nicole DeWitt, Kendyl Lindaman and Hannah Adams.
The lineage of Florida All-Americans also includes current players Charla Echols (2021), Elizabeth Hightower (2021) and Skylar Wallace (2022). Wallace had a historic season of her own as she became the only known player in NCAA DI history since 2002 to record at least 70 hits (71), score 70 runs (79), drive in 50 RBI (53) and steal 50 or more bases (52). She also drew 50 walks last season too.
The Gators look to build off their decade of success heading into the upcoming 2023 season behind veterans Echols, Wallace and Hightower. The program also brings back influential members of the 2022 squad in sophomores Kendra Falby, Lexie Delbrey, Reagan Walsh and Sam Roe along with juniors Katie Kistler and Avery Goelz who had breakout seasons.
D1Softball.com Top 10 Rankings – All-Time & Last 10 Years
Rank
School
Postseason
Last 10
WCWS
Last 10
WCWS Titles
Last 10
All-Americans
Last 10
POY
1
Oklahoma
28
10
15
9
6
5
75
38
4
2
Florida
22
10
11
7
2
2
48
27
2
3
UCLA
37
10
30
7
12
1
70
29
2
4
Florida St.
33
10
11
4
1
1
61
20
1
5
Alabama
23
10
13
6
1
1
61
30
0
6
Arizona
35
10
25
3
8
0
110
20
0
7
Washington
28
10
14
4
1
0
56
21
0
8
Georgia
20
10
5
3
0
0
32
16
0
9
Tennessee
18
10
7
3
0
0
38
21
0
10
Texas
22
10
6
2
0
0
15
14
0
Florida NFCA All-Americans – Since 2012
Player
Years Named NFCA All-American
Michelle Moultrie
2011, 2012
Hannah Rogers
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Lauren Haeger
2013, 2015
Kelsey Stewart
2014, 2015
Aleshia Ocasio
2015, 2016
Delanie Gourley
2016, 2017
Kayli Kvistad
2016, 2017
Amanda Lorenz
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Kelly Barnhill
2017, 2018, 2019
Nicole DeWitt
2018
Kendyl Lindaman
2017*, 2018*, 2019
Charla Echols
2021
Hannah Adams
2021
Elizabeth Hightower
2021
Skylar Wallace
2022
*Lindaman earned NFCA All-American honors twice at Minnesota before transferring to Florida
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