2009 Florida Gators softball team

2009 Florida Gators softball
SEC Regular Season Champions SEC Tournament Champions
SEC Tournament Championship Game, W 8-5 vs. Alabama
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Division	East
2009 record	65–3 (26–1 SEC)
Head coach	Tim Walton
Assistant coach	Jennifer Rocha, Jenny Gladding
Home stadium	Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium
Seasons ← 2008 2010 →

The 2009 Florida Gators softball team represented the University of Florida softball program for the 2009 NCAA softball season. The Gators compiled an overall record of 63-5 and completed its SEC regular season with a record of 26-1. They finished second in the nation after losing to the Washington Huskies in the WCWS Championship Series. The 2009 team broke the SEC single-season home runs record (86) and several school records including grand slams in a season (12), total shutouts (39), and consecutive shutouts (11). Aja Paculba set the single season stolen base record (27), Francesca Enea broke the career home run record (41), and the Florida pitching staff threw three no-hitters in the regular season (Stephanie Brombacher vs. Coastal Carolina and Stacey Nelson vs. Ole Miss and Arkansas). Stacey Nelson was named the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award winner and the SEC Pitcher of the year for the second straight year, and five Gators were given Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American honors. Stacey Nelson was named to the first team (pitcher), and Stephanie Brombacher (pitcher), Francesca Enea (outfielder), Kelsey Bruder (outfielder), and Aja Paculba (second baseman) were named to the second team.

The 2008 Gators went 70-5 overall and 27-1 in SEC play. The 70 wins set an NCAA single season record and Florida, named the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament, advanced to the semifinals of the Women's College World Series. They also were the SEC regular season and tournament champions. Five Gators were named All-Americans (Stacey Nelson, Kim Waleszonia, Aja Paculba, Francesca Enea, and Ali Gardiner) and Junior pitcher Stacey Nelson was the SEC Pitcher of the Year.

With all but one starter from the 2008 team returning, the Gators were voted the pre-season #1.

The season opener for both squads stayed scoreless until the bottom of the 2nd when Francesca Enea, on third base because of a walk and a single from Tiffany DeFelice, scored on a passed ball. Hilberth also scored on a passed ball, this time in the bottom of the 3rd, after singling, stealing second, and advancing to third on an error by catcher Jordan Vannatta. Number 2 hitter Aja Paculba was walked in between strike outs by Kim Waleszonia and Ali Gardiner, and successfully stole second during the latter. She advanced to third on the same passed ball that scored Hilberth, and after Enea was intentionally walked, the Gators attempted a double steal, but caught in a pickle between 3rd and home, Paculba was caught for the final out of the inning. The Gators only other run of the night came on a solo shot from right fielder Kelsey Bruder (graduated senior Mary Ratliff's replacement and only new starter from the previous season).