A first time for everything in SEC softball history
The Southeastern Conference has set a standard of excellence in the sport of softball. The SEC programs continue to achieve a number of firsts since the sport began in the league in 1997. Here is a look back at the first times when softball programs throughout the SEC achieved successes in conference history:
First Pitch
Feb. 8, 1997 at 4:01:13 p.m. ET - Stetson at Florida
Florida's Chelsey Sakizzie threw the first pitch to Stetson's Bryttnee Roberts. Roberts fouled off the pitch, and Sakizzie went on to strike out the side in order.
First Hit
Feb. 8, 1997 - Stetson at Florida.
Florida's Amy Criswell singled down left field line off Stetson's Jean Bonnici in the first inning.
First Extra Base Hit
Feb. 8, 1997 - Stetson at Florida
Florida's Kristin Sandler doubled to left center in the first.
First Run
Feb. 8, 1997 - Stetson at Florida
Criswell scored from first on a throwing error by Stetson third baseman Traci Brown off a bunt by Trisha Ward.
First RBI
Feb. 8, 1997 - Stetson at Florida
Sandler doubled home Nicole Kreipl, who had singled to left center.
First Win
Feb. 8, 1998 at 5:29 p.m. ET - Florida 8, Stetson 0 (5 inn.)
The game lasted one hour, 28 minutes and 2,388 people were in attendance.
First Stolen Base
Feb. 8, 1997 - Stetson at Florida (Game Two)
Florida's Lora Pinkerton stole second after reaching base on a single to center.
First No-Hitter
Feb. 16, 1997 - North Carolina at South Carolina
South Carolina's Trinity Johnson earned the win over North Carolina, 1-0, in the Lady Gamecocks' season opener. It was Johnson's fourth career no-hitter.
First Perfect Game
Feb. 16, 1997 - North Carolina at South Carolina
Johnson pitched her second career perfect game in the win over the Tar Heels.
First Extra-Inning Game
Feb. 14, 1997 - Northwestern at Florida (Loss)
Florida lost to Northwestern, 4-3 in eight innings.
Feb. 15, 1997 - Florida Atlantic at Florida (Win)
Florida defeated Florida Atlantic, 1-0 in eight innings.
First Pitch in an SEC Game
March 5, 1997 at 6:01:10 p.m. ET - Arkansas at Florida
Sakizzie's first pitch to Arkansas' Augrista Belford was a called strike. Sakizzie went on to strike out Belford.
First Hit and First Extra Base Hit in an SEC Game
March 5, 1997 - Arkansas at Florida
Arkansas' Gretchen Thompson doubled to left field in the second inning.
First Run in an SEC Game
March 5, 1997 - Arkansas at Florida
Arkansas' Brett Erickson scored from second on a single to right by Tammy Kincaid in the fifth inning.
First RBI in an SEC Game
March 5, 1997 - Arkansas at Florida
Kincaid singled home Erickson, who reached base on a walk and then stole second.
First Stolen Base in an SEC Game
March 5, 1997 - Arkansas at Florida
Florida's Trisha Ward stole second in the fifth inning.
First Win in SEC Game
March 5, 1997 at 8:20 p.m. ET - Arkansas at Florida
Florida defeated Arkansas, 2-1 in nine innings. The game lasted two hours, 20 minutes and 713 people were in attendance.
First Shutout in an SEC Game
March 11, 1997 - Florida at Tennessee (Game One)
Tennessee's Jackie Beavers hurled a three-hit, 1-0 shutout against Florida.
First No-Hitter in an SEC Game
March 15, 1997 - South Carolina at Florida (Game one)
South Carolina's Johnson no-hit Florida in a 5-0 win. Johnson struck out 10 in the victory.
First Extra-Inning SEC Game
March 5, 1997 - Arkansas at Florida
Florida defeated Arkansas, 2-1 in nine innings.
First Pitch in an SEC Tournament
May 9, 1997 at 1:03:18 p.m. ET - Alabama vs. Florida
Alabama's Christy Caccavo first pitch was to Florida's Criswell, which was called a ball.
First Hit in an SEC Tournament
May 9, 1997 - Alabama vs. Florida
Alabama's Kierstin Arntsen hit a home run off Florida's Sakizzie in the bottom of the first inning.
First SEC Team to earn a No. 1 National Ranking
Feb. 13, 2007 - Tennessee reached No. 1 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. The Lady Vols reached No. 1 in the NFCA poll on Feb. 14, 2007.
First No. 1 National Seed for the NCAA Tournament
May 2008
The Florida Gators secured the top seed for the 2008 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament and went on to host regional and super regional play in Gainesville.
First Preseason No. 1 National Ranking
January 2009
Florida earned the No. 1 ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll.
First SEC Softball National Championship
June 6, 2012
Alabama defeated Oklahoma, 5-4, in game three of the best-of-three championship series to claim the first softball National Championship in SEC history.
First SEC Softball National Championship Series (2 Teams)
June 3, 2014
With two SEC teams in the championship series of the 2014 Women's College World Series, Florida defeated Alabama, 6-3, in Game Two of the best-of-three series to claim its first National Championship.
First SEC Team to Win Consecutive National Championships
June 3, 2015
Florida became just the third program in NCAA Softball history to win back-to-back national titles, as the Gators defeated Michigan in Game 1 and Game 3 of the Women's College World Series Championship Series.
First Time All SEC Schools Earned a Bid to the NCAA Tournament
May 14, 2017
The SEC set an NCAA Tournament record as all 13 programs earned a spot in the 2017 NCAA Division I Softball Championship. The SEC had all 13 programs representing the league in 2018 and 2019.
First Time SEC Schools Earned the Most National Seeds in the NCAA Tournament
May 13, 2018
The SEC set the NCAA record for most National Seeds from one conference with nine national seeds. The SEC regular season and tournament champion Florida earned the No. 2 seed, and Georgia was awarded the No. 7 seed. South Carolina was the No. 9 seed, and Tennessee was selected as the No. 10 seed. LSU captured the No. 11 seed, and Alabama was tabbed as the No. 12 seed. Arkansas was named the No. 13 seed, while Texas A&M took the No. 15 seed. Kentucky rounded out the list as the No. 16 seed.