College Softball News

Women’s College World Series Semi-Final If-Necessary UCLA vs. FSU Recap

Game 3 Semi-Final If-Necessary: UCLA vs. Florida State

UCLA and Florida State took the field for the second time on Sunday, and third time this week at this Women’s College World Series for the “if-necessary” game. Florida State defeated UCLA 3-1 earlier in the day to force a second game. The winner would move on to the 2018 Championship Series against Washington which begins Monday June 4.

Rachel Garcia took the mound yet again for UCLA, the sophomore had pitched every inning for the Bruins in Oklahoma City thus far. Florida State came out aggressive, a similar approach to their final offensive inning in the previous game where they tacked on three runs and claimed the lead. The Seminoles got two hits in the top of the first but were unable to score.

Kylee Hanson got the start for Florida State on defense and shut down the Bruins right away.

UCLA returned to the field for the second inning with a new pitcher in the circle. Senior Selina Ta’amilo took the mound for the Bruins. With one out, FSU’s Cali Harrod launched a ball into the left field bleachers putting the Seminoles up 1-0. Morgan Klaevemann followed the at bat with a double off the center field wall. With one out, UCLA put Garcia back on the mound. A UCLA error in the field scored another run for the Seminoles. Jessie Warren stepped up and hit a home run over the center field wall. With the Seminoles leading 4-0, UCLA would swap pitchers again, this time putting in freshman Holly Azevedo.

Bubba Nickles led off the bottom of the inning with a double. With two outs, Taylor Pack hit a home run over the left field wall, cutting the lead in half. 4-2 Florida State after two.

In the top of the fourth with two Seminole runners on, Sydney Sherrill launched a three run home run to extend the lead to 7-2. UCLA would respond in the bottom part of the inning and put up two runs cutting the lead to 7-4.

Florida State had an offensive explosion in the top of the fifth, adding five more runs to their lead. After scoring two with two outs and a runner on second, UCLA intentionally walked Jessie Warren with first base open. Carsyn Gordon stepped up and blasted a line drive home run into the left field bleachers to score three more runs. 12-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Briana Perez hit a home run over the right field wall to take the run-rule off the table and moving the score to 12-5. Aaliyah Jordan followed it up with a single up the middle, forcing FSU to make a pitching change. Cassidy Davis took the mound and recorded a double play to end the inning.

Rachel Garcia would return to the mound in the top of the sixth inning for the Bruins. The senior would sit down the three Seminole hitters in order.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bubba Nickles hit a line drive over the left field wall making the score 12-6.

Florida State made another pitching change and brought in Meghan King to close out the bottom of the seventh. King shut the door, giving the Seminoles the win to advance to the 2018 Women’s College World Series Championship.

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