College Softball News

Women’s College World Series Oregon vs. Florida State Recap

Elimination Game 4: Oregon vs. Florida State

The final elimination game of the day was between Oregon and Florida State. Freshman Miranda Elish got the start for the Ducks in the circle and looked sharp right out of the gate. Senior Kylee Hanson commanded the mound from the first pitch for the Seminoles and like Elish, went right at the opposing hitters. Both starters kept the hitters off balanced and put up zeros in the run column through the first two innings of play.

In the top of the third, Florida State took advantage of a leadoff walk and advanced to second. The nine hitter Elizabeth Mason stepped up and hit a double in the left-center gap to bring the first run of the game across the plate. Jessie Warren followed up with a single up the middle to move Mason to third. With runners on first and third and one out, Elish garnered a big strikeout, followed by a fly out to left field to end the inning.

Cali Harrod led off the top of the fifth for the Seminoles with a base hit. Morgan Klaevemann laid down a bunt and beat out the throw. Meanwhile, Harrod advanced when the Oregon defense failed to cover third base. A bloop single by Mason scored Harrod from third. With FSU leading 2-0 and no outs, Oregon head coach Mike White made a pitching change. Megan Klesit entered the game with runners on first and second. Jessie Warren hit a screaming line drive at Duck short stop DJ Sanders who made the catch, but overthrew first base in an attempt to pick off the runner. The runners moved up a base and with one out, Kleist retired the next two Seminole batters via strikeout and ground out.

In the top of the sixth, Florida State kept the momentum going after drawing a leadoff walk and taking advantage of a misplayed sac bunt. With runners on first and second with no outs, Zoe Casas drove a ball to deep right field that hit off the top of the fence. One run would score and for the second inning in a row, White went to the bullpen and brought Maggie Balint in to pitch. With no outs and runners on first and second, Balint retired the next two Seminole hitters via strikeout and ground out to end the inning.

Oregon got their first run across the plate in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and a runner on first, Haley Cruse sent a ball to left center that was just out of the reach of the diving left fielder. Hanson retired the next Duck hitter via pop out to short stop.

In the top of the seventh inning, Sydney Sherrill hit a two out home run shot over the right field wall, giving the Seminoles an insurance run and extending their lead to 4-1.

DJ Saunders led off the bottom of the seventh for the Ducks with a four pitch walk. With one out, pinch hitter Mary Iakopo drew another walk putting Oregon runners on first and second. The Seminoles went to the pen and called on Meghan King, who tossed all 7.0 innings earlier in the day. A first-pitch fly out recorded the second out. That brought pinch hitter April Utecht to the plate. King retired the final out of the game via strikeout.

The Seminoles move on and will face UCLA on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. CT.

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