Women’s College World Series Championship Game 2 Recap
Championship Game 2: Florida State vs. Washington
Florida State would be the home team in Game 2 and would need just one more win to clench their first ever National Championship in program history. Meghan King earned the start for the Seminoles in the circle. The junior has had an impressive Women’s College World Series, going 3-0 with a save in the circle for FSU. Taran Alvelo would get the start for Washington, the junior shined in her last game appearance on Sunday when the Huskies shutout Oklahoma.
Taylor Van Zee took the first pitch of the game up the middle to give the Huskies their first base runner. A passed ball would move Van Zee to second. Bates dropped a bunt on the third pitch of the game, fielded by Warren at third, who overthrew first base. Van Zee scored on the overthrow, giving the Huskies an early 1-0 lead and Bates reached second. With no outs, DePonte hit a shallow pop up behind second base, but a miscommunication between the FSU defense resulted in the ball to hit the ground. With runners on second and third, Noelle Hee hit a line drive to right field, scoring Bates and moving DePonte to third. Taryn Atlee hit a slow roller to short stop, recording the second out, but not before scoring DePonte, the third run.
Jessie Warren led off the bottom half of the inning for the Seminoles with a single to left. Alvelo retired the next two hitters via strikeout. With two outs, Anna Shelnutt sent another ball over the center field wall, making the score 3-2 in favor of Washington after one inning of play.
Zoe Casas led off the bottom of the second with a double off of the left center field wall. Cali Harrod drew a walk to put Seminole runners on first and second with no outs. The next batter popped up a bunt for the first out. Elizabeth Mason sent a ball to right field that was misplayed by the right fielder, to score both base runners. That would bring up Warren, who continued her hot streak and singled again into left, bringing Mason home. 5-3 Seminoles.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, the Huskies recorded back to back hits by Emma Helm and Kirstyn Thomas. Trysten Melhart hit a spinning ground ball back to the pitcher’s circle and King was unable to make the play. With bases loaded, a ground out would end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth with one out, Morgan Klaevemann got hit by a pitch. A successful steal attempt would move her to second and the overthrow on the steal would put her on third. Elizabeth Mason stepped up to the plate and ripped a line drive over the center field wall to extend the Florida State lead to 7-3. Gabbie Plain would replace Alvelo in the circle with one out and Jessie Warren up. Warren blasted a solo home run to left pushing the lead to 8-3.
That is where the score would remain. Meghan King was spectacular in the pitching circle for the remainder of the game. The Florida State Seminoles were crowned as the 2018 National Champions.
