2019 WCWS Day One, Session One: AZ, WA, UCLA, MN
GAME ONE: #6 Arizona 3, #3 Washington 1
Game one of the Women’s College World Series was better than billed, going into extra innings, and serving us the pitchers’ duel you can expect in from this Pac-12 rivalry.
Fourth time was the charm for the Wildcats, winning 3-1, after Washington swept them during the regular season on their home turf (2-1, 3-1, 7-4).
“I think we mentioned a lot against Washington that we were beating ourselves against the pitching,” said Dejah Mulipola during the post game press conference. “I think it kind of showed the fight that we had. I mentioned earlier, somebody asked me how did you know this team was going to go to OKC, when did you get a feeling. I kind of knew after the UCLA series we had fight. We kind of just showed it again in this series. We kind of took it personal that we got swept at home. To come back, have Washington our first game, to do what we did to them was just nice.”
Washington’s Taran Alvelo and Arizona’s Taylor McQuillin were sensational in the circle. Both went the eight inning distance with Alvelo fanning eleven Wildcat batters and McQuillin recording seven strike outs of her own.
The game remained scoreless through five innings of play with McQuillin and Alvelo trading strikeouts and working out of jams; squashing any scoring threat in its tracks.
But then Jessie Harper happened. Her solo home run to right center in the top of the sixth broke the tie, the Arizona fans erupted, and the Wildcats held the 1-0 advantage.
Just as fast as Arizona claimed the lead and looked to be on their way to finally breaking through against the Huskies, Sami Reynolds stepped up.
Taryn Atlee also doubled in the inning and advanced to third but Washington was unable to drive her home.
In the seventh inning, base runners and opportunities to score were present for both teams. Rylee Pierce of Arizona reached after being hit by a pitch followed by a Reyna Carranco infield single that placed Wildcat runners on second and first. But a pair of strike outs and a ground out ended the top half of the seventh. A similar situation played out for Washington; Amirah Milloy and Sis Bates both singled but they, too, were stranded at their respective bases.
Until the eighth inning Arizona’s Mulipola had been silenced in her first three at-bats; but with Malia Martinez on base Mulipola took Alvelo deep to center, lifting Arizona over the Huskies for the eventual 3-1 victory.
“Facing Alvelo in my first couple at-bats, I knew she was throwing me out,” said Mulipola about her go-ahead home run. “I was sitting on that. I think she understood I was sitting on that. She started coming in the next few at-bats. I was trying to breathe, see a pitch. I happened to see one. Actually, I didn’t think it was out. When I tell that to everyone, they don’t believe me. That’s why I was so excited running around first base when it did go over.
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GAME TWO: #7 MINNESOTA 2, #2 UCLA 7
In their first-ever time on the dirt in Oklahoma City, Minnesota made their Women’s College World Series debut against a Goliath-sized foe: UCLA. The Bruins came out swinging. Literally.
“Bubba” Nickles, UCLA’s leadoff hitter, sent a solo shot over the left field instantly giving the Bruins the 1-0 advantage and setting Minnesota back on their heels. UCLA steadily added to their lead scoring one run in each the second and third innings.
In the second, with Minnesota’s Amber Fiser still struggling to settle into the game, UCLA loaded the bases behind singles from Taylor Pack and Colleen Sullivan and a Brianna Tautalufua walk. Fiser then issued a four pitch walk Kinsley Washington, bringing home the second Bruin run. However, Fiser and the Gophers worked out of the jam without allowing another run to cross the plate.
Taylor Pack, who was 2-for-3 on the day, punched home the Bruins’ third run in the bottom of the third frame. The 3-0 score would hold until the sixth inning when the Gophers’ offense showed signs of life.
Minnesota’s Maddie Houlihan singled to kick off the frame giving way to freshman sensation, Natalie DenHartog, who stayed true to form and delivered Minnesota’s first-ever WCWS run.
The scoring wasn’t finished.
Allie Arneson, who is one of the Gophers’ hottest offensive players during their post season run, stepped into the box and drilled a pitch to the left center gap. DenHartog charged for home while Arneson was thrown out at second.
With a new burst of life, Minnesota’s defense took the field but an uncharacteristic error sealed the eventual UCLA victory. Washington and Godin each reached base via singles giving way to Nickles. An otherwise route ground ball to Gopher second baseman, MaKenna Partain, skipped away from the seasoned junior, allowing Washington to score from second base. If recorded, it would have marked the second out of the inning and the next Bruin batter, Briana Perez, went down swinging. Instead, the Perez strikeout only represented the second out of the inning.
Then the dagger came.
Has fast as Aaliyah Jordan stepped into the box, she left, blasting a three-run shot to right center giving the Bruins the 7-2 lead. Following the home run, Minnesota relieved Fiser, ending her streak of 41.2 consecutive innings pitched. Through 5.2 innings of work Fiser struck out six Bruins, walked five, and allowed seven runs; unfortunately, only three of which were earned.
“It felt good,” Jordan said about her sixth inning blast. “I mean, I had a plan going up first at-bat, I didn’t get what I wanted. I think staying positive throughout these three at-bats, coming up the last at-bat get the pitch I wanted felt good.”
Rather one wants to admit it or not, experienced played a role in UCLA’s success in yesterday’s contest, especially offensively.
“Fiser is legit,” said UCLA head coach, Kelly Inoyue-Perez. “She’s a great pitcher. I’m proud of our hitters being able to kind of get after her. But you saw she kind of settled in there right in the middle of the ballgame … That’s not easy to continue to get after a great pitcher. But experience kicks in where we now have a couple at-bats against her. We want to be able to make an adjustment. I know one thing, great teams make adjustments and get stronger through a game. Fiser, like I said, a lot of respect for her, her coaching staff, her pitching coach. I know they put a lot into it. She’s a talented pitcher.”
In the circle, UCLA’s Rachel Garcia, weaved a strong first outing finishing with a final stat line of seven strikeouts, two walks, and four hits through her seven innings of work.
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