2017 College Softball Super Regional Day 3 Recap
Day three of the 2017 NCAA DI Super Regionals concluding on Saturday night. Three more teams have punched their ticket to the WCWS in Oklahoma City next week. There are four spots left, who will it be out of the list below?
Sunday’s Game Schedule:
- Florida State vs. LSU @ 12 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
- Tennessee vs. Texas A&M @ 2 p.m. CT (ESPN)
- Arizona vs. Baylor @ 6 p.m. CT (ESPN2)
- Washington vs. Utah @ 7 p.m. CT (ESPN)
Defending Champs Advance
Oklahoma (56-9) is returning to the Women’s College World Series to defend its National Championship title after a 5-2 win over No. 7 Auburn (49-12) Saturday at Jane B. Moore Field. Junior Nicole Pendley drove in four of OU’s five runs as she went 2-3 with a home run in the second inning. On the weekend, she was 3-7 (.429) and accounted for five of OU’s eight runs batted in. Like Pendley, sophomore Sydney Romero was also 2-3 as she doubled and scored a run in the win. Romero leads the team with 22 multi-hit games this season. The win was Oklahoma’s 28th in a row on the road, extending the team’s record streak. OU finished the season 18-0 on the road this year, finishing undefeated for the first time in program history. OU is heading to the WCWS for the 11th time in program history and sixth time in the last seven years. The Sooners will open play Thursday against the winner of the Super Regional between No. 2 Arizona and No. 15 Baylor.
Win AND go home! #RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/7XzJ8dFHun
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) May 27, 2017
The Tigers Force Game Three
LSU defeated Florida State 1-0 on Saturday behind a stellar pitching performance by junior Allie Walljasper to force game three of the series. Walljasper threw a complete game one-hitter in the circle and surrendered just two walks. The lone run for the Tigers came in on a RBI single by Aliyah Andrews and it was plenty for Walljasper. With the victory, LSU improved to 46-20 on the year, while Florida State dropped to 55-7-1. The win for the Tigers broke a 36-game win streak by the Seminoles at JoAnne Graf Field dating back to 2016. The two squads return for the deciding game to advance to Oklahoma City at noon CT on ESPNU.
Gators Are Headed to OKC
The University of Florida softball team earned its eighth berth to the Women’s College World Series on Saturday after winning the final game of its best-of-three NCAA Super Regional against Alabama. UF finished off the series with a 2-1 win over UA in front of a charged-up crowd (2,216) at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Sophomore Amanda Lorenz paced the Gators (55-8) all weekend as she went 5-for-8 (.625) with two runs scored, two RBI, one home run and three walks. Pitching and defense ruled the remainder of the game, as sophomore Kelly Barnhill (24-3) retired 16 of the final 17 hitters she faced. For the game, Barnhill allowed just two hits, one run (earned) and one walk, while striking out 12 Crimson Tide hitters. Florida will open play Thursday at the WCWS at noon ET against either Tennessee or Texas A&M.
Aggies Force Game Three Against Tennessee
The Texas A&M softball team defeated Tennessee, 6-5, Saturday to force game three in the Knoxville Super Regional at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Aggies (46-11) plated four runs on five hits to take a 5-4 advantage. For the second game in a row, Payton McBride stifled the Tennessee offense, allowing just two hits in 1.2 innings with a strikeout. McBride entered the game in the sixth with one out and the bases loaded and forced an infield fly and a groundout to get out of the jam. The rubber match is set to begin at 2 p.m. CT Sunday and can be seen on ESPN.
.@Coach_Jo_Evans' comments following Saturday's win over Tennessee #12thMan pic.twitter.com/cUre4RFm1t
— Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) May 28, 2017
Ducks WCWS Bound After Comeback Win
Oregon is headed to the Women’s College World Series. The Ducks advanced Saturday thanks to a thrilling comeback that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Entering the seventh, the Wildcats (39-19) led 5-2. The Ducks rallied for four runs in the seventh inning to beat Kentucky, 6-5, and sweep the Eugene Super Regional. “Kentucky fought tremendously hard today, really gave us a run for our money,” Oregon Head Coach Mike White said regarding the Super Regional. “But our team just fought and fought and fought, which shows the character of our team. That kind of game there is a showcase for the sport. Even though it’s obviously nicer to be on the winning side, I think both teams have to be proud of the display they put on here.”
Utah Forces Game Three vs. Washington
Utah defeated Washington 9-8 on Saturday night, forcing game three of the series which will take place on Sunday. The Utes came on strong at the plate against Huskies ace Taran Alvelo, who was tagged for seven runs, three earned, on five hits in 2 2⁄3 innings. Utah freshman BreOnna Castaneda’s three-run homer was the momentum shifter which capped a seven-run third inning for the Utes offense. The Utes augmented five hits in the third with two walks, a sacrifice bunt, a sacrifice fly, a Huskies throwing error, a hit batter and a run-scoring, bases-loaded triple steal. “This team is one game away from going to the World Series,” Head Coach Amy Hogue said. “We’ve not been able to say that before and I guarantee that’s not going to get old. We’re going to keep saying it all night tonight and all day tomorrow until this thing’s over.” The decisive Game 3 will be at 8 p.m. MDT Sunday, with the winner advancing to the College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Utah Softball stayed alive with a 9-8 win over UW, forcing a 3rd game in the NCAA Super Regional, Sun. at 7 pm PT #GoUtes #UteFamily pic.twitter.com/uXHdwYo6MY
— Utah Softball (@Utah_Softball) May 28, 2017
Baylor Tops Arizona Forcing Game Three
The No. 15-seeded Baylor softball (47-13) powered through a four-run sixth inning rally, taking down No. 2-seed Arizona (52-8) with a 6-4 win on Saturday evening at Hillenbrand Stadium, forcing an elimination Super Regional final on Sunday. Kelsee Selman (24-8) went the distance for the Lady Bears in the circle, throwing all 7.0 innings and allowing eight hits, four runs, three earned runs while striking out five Wildcat hitters. The teams staying locked in a scoreless tie until the bottom of the fourth. Lady Bears Kettler, Scroggins, Christensen, and Ellis went a combined 6-for-12 at the plate, batting in the 6-7-8-9 holes in the Baylor lineup, accounted for all five of the team’s RBI. Game three of the Sunday Super Regional will air at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
