NCAA Softball Super Regional Friday Recap
Friday was jam-packed with NCAA Softball Super Regional match-ups, eight to be exact. The UCLA Bruins are the first team to advance to the Women’s College World Series, which is set to kick off in Oklahoma City Thursday, May 31. Below are recaps from all eight Friday games.
Florida vs. Texas A&M
Texas A&M rallied with three two-out runs in the fifth to defeat No. 2 Florida, 5-4, Friday night at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium, forcing a game three in the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional. After the Aggies took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, the Gators (54-9) scored four unanswered runs before the Aggies (44-17) reclaimed the lead for good. Samantha Show started the two-out rally with a single up the middle before Sarah Hudek followed suit with a single of her own. Tori Vidales then blasted her 13th homer of the season to center, and also broke the school’s career runs record at 196. The Aggies and Gators square off at 4 p.m. CST Saturday on ESPN with the winner advancing to the Women’s College World Series.
Oklahoma vs. Arkansas
Oklahoma earned a 7-2 victory over Arkansas in game one of the Norman Super Regional at Marita Hynes Field. With the win, the Sooners are now 29-0 at home this season. Sooner senior lefthander Paige Lowary (10-1) made just her fifth start of the year and earned the win by scattering three hits and striking out six over six innings and 70 pitches. Sophomore right-hander Mariah Lopez pitched one inning of relief for OU. National freshman of the year finalist Jocelyn Alo, who leads the nation in home runs, blasted No. 27 of the season in the third inning. Oklahoma is one win away from reaching the Women’s College World Series for the 12th time in program history. If Arkansas wins game two, game three will be played at noon on Sunday.
Florida State vs. LSU
LSU took down No. 6 Florida State, 6-5, in the opening game of the NCAA Tallahassee Super Regional, Friday night at JoAnne Graf Field. The Tiger offense recorded nine hits and were led by Amanda Doyle who had three RBI’s. Starting pitcher Allie Walljasper (18-6) earned the win for LSU with 6.2 innings of work. The Tigers are now just one win away from advancing to the NCAA Women’s College World Series for the seventh time in school history, the fifth time under head coach Beth Torina and the fourth-straight year. The two teams will return to the field at 5 p.m. CST Saturday. If the Seminoles force the third game, game three will follow 30 minutes after due expected weather in the Tallahassee area on Sunday.
Georgia vs. Tennessee
The seventh-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (46-11) edged No. 10 Tennessee Lady Volunteers 4-3 in game one in front of a sold-out Jack Turner Stadium. After averaging nine runs per game in the NCAA regional, the Bulldog bats picked up where they left off jumping on the Lady Vols in the bottom of the first inning. The Bulldogs recorded two runs in the first and tacked on two more in the third. Both teams recorded seven hits in the matchup. Kylie Bass (15-3) earned the win in the circle after tossing five shutout innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Mary Wilson Avant picked up her second save of the season, tossing one and a third innings to close out the game. Game two is on Saturday at 3 p.m. with Georgia just one win away from advancing.
UCLA vs. Arizona
UCLA was impressive coming back to win game two with their series against Arizona. The win sends the Bruins to the WCWS for the fourth straight season and 28th time overall. Rachel Garcia (27-3) was lights out in the circle once again for the Bruins, allowing just four hits and two runs while striking out 10 over seven innings. UCLA sophomore Bubba Nickles played a big roll in the win going 3-for-3 on the night and knocking in two runs in the third inning to tie the game. One inning later Aaliyah Jordan knocked in the game-winning run after two, two-out singles by Kylee and Briana Perez.
LEAD CHANGE. Aaliyah Jordan’s double brings in a runner to give UCLA a 3-2 lead! #NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/mSwZW430tF
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 26, 2018
Washington vs. Alabama
The Washington Huskies topped the Alabama Crimson Tide in walk-off fashion Friday night in Seattle, WA. The Huskies secured a 3-2 win in extra innings to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Super Regionals series. Sis Bates tied the game in the seventh on a two run single. Two innings later Taylor Van Zee singled to center to secure the game one win. Van Zee was impressive going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and the game winning RBI. Gabbie Plain (20-4) got the win in the circle for Washington. Plain allowed three hits and struck out nine over nine innings of work. Alabama will look to bounce back today at 7:00 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
Oregon vs. Kentucky
Oregon tied the series with Kentucky behind a Miranda Elish (23-1) complete-game two-hitter. The best-of-three series is now tied at one. The Ducks and Wildcats will play the rubber match Saturday at 9:00 pm EST with a spot in the Women’s College World Series on the line. Ducks freshman Lauren Burke continued to impress getting the start and going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. She hit a bases-loaded single during a four-run fourth inning for the Ducks as part of her strong night at the plate. Elish allowed just one run on two hits with seven strikeouts.
Arizona State vs. South Carolina
Arizona State earned a 5-2 win in their first Super Regional game against South Carolina Friday night at Farrington Stadium. Giselle “G” Juarez (26-4) was sharp yet again in the circle for the Sun Devils. Matter of fact, she carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Alyssa VanDervee singled up the middle on a 2-0 count. Juarez allowed just two hits and struck out eight on the night. At the plate, Morgan Howe went 3-for-3 with two RBI. The Sun Devils looked strong and could be headed to Oklahoma City, OK if they can secure one more win. Game two will be played at 9:00 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
WEB 💎 KINDRA HACKBARTH 👀@ASUsoftball leads South Carolina, 3-0! #NCAAsoftball pic.twitter.com/qjBzaeaeoI
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 26, 2018
