Women’s College World Series Oklahoma vs. Washington Recap
Game 2: Oklahoma vs. Washington
The defending two-time National Champions took the field for Game two of the day behind the arm of Senior left-hander Paige Parker. Washington came out aggressive at the plate and recorded the game’s first hit in the top of the first, a double off the bat of Sis Bates. Husky freshman Gabbie Plain got the start in the circle for Washington. Plain looked very composed on the mound, going right at the hitters and recorded a dominant one-two-three first inning.
Oklahoma recorded their first hit in the bottom of the second off the bat of Falepolima Aviu. But a double-play up the middle by Washington shortstop Sis Bates ended the inning.
Washington responded with a hit of their own, their third of the game, in the top of the third inning but couldn’t get any other momentum going. In the bottom of the frame, Lea Wodach singled to left with two outs, but another great play made by Bates at short ended the inning.
After a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth inning, the Sooners made a pitching change and brought in fellow left-handed senior Paige Lowary for a new look.
Kelly Burdick laid down a beautiful bunt that was scooped up by Lowary who was unable to make the play. Taylor Van Zee dropped another bunt to move the runners to second and third with one out. Next batter was Bates who hit a dribbler back to Lowary, but a high flip to home scored the first run. A first-pitch bloop single off the bat of Julia DePonte scored the second run and advanced Bates to third. With runners on second and third, Lowary recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.
In the top of the sixth, the Huskies pinch hitter Nawai Kaupe led off with a single. Taryn Atlee followed up with a single of her own before Trysten Melhart laid down a bunt that OU catcher Wodach wasn’t able to come up with. With bases loaded and no outs, OU made another pitching change, bringing back in starter Paige Parker. Parker retired the nine hitter Burdick via pop up, before leadoff hitter Van Zee lined out to left. With two outs, Bates stepped into the box and dropped a bunt right in front of the plate that was scooped up and flipped to home plate by Parker, beating the runner, to secure the third out with no damage.
Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Huskies had left nine runners on base.
With two outs, Sydney Romero singled up the middle, bringing the Freshman of the Year Jocelyn Alo to the plate. Alo punched a 1-2 pitch through the 5-6 hole. With runners on first and second with two outs, Washington made a pitching change to bring in Junior Taran Alvelo. The batter Shay Knighten swung at the first pitch and punched a flair to shallow right field. Melhart made the diving grab, which many will question whether or not I was a catch – as it rolled out and hit the ground on the transfer, for out number three.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Nicole Mendes reached on a base hit up the middle, keeping the Sooner’s last out alive. Caleigh Clifton hit a fielder’s choice in the 5-6 hole, Bates fielded it cleanly but the throw to second was not in time. With Sooner runners on first and second with two outs, Alvelo garnered the game-ending strikeout.
Washington earned the 2-0 victory, advancing them to the next round of the winner’s bracket where they will face Oregon on Friday, June 1 at 6 p.m. CT. Oklahoma will head to the loser’s bracket and will play Arizona State in the survival game on Saturday, June 2 at 11 a.m.
