College Softball News

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

Game 4: UCLA vs. Florida State

The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year took the mound for UCLA to kick off Game 4, the final game of the opening day at the 2018 Women’s College World Series. Rachel Garcia retired the first two Florida State batters of the game via strikeout and got the third batter to pop up in foul territory to garner the third out.

Kylee Perez led off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle. Florida State pitcher Meghan King issued a two out walk to Garcia to put runners on first and second. Bubba Nickles hit a laser through the 5-6 hole to load the bases. King got out of the inning with a strikeout.

In the top of the third two Seminoles reached base on walks. With one out and runners on first and second, Garcia claimed another strikeout and Paige Halstead caught the runner stealing who was trying to advance from second to third to end the inning.

K Perez led off the bottom of the third inning with another hit. Her sister, Briana Perez moved her over with a sac bunt to the pitcher. With one out and K Perez on second, Aaliyah Jordan hit a grounder to first base moving Perez to third. Garcia stepped up to the plate and hit a ground ball up the middle that tipped off the glove of King, second base was there to make the play.

In the top of the fifth, Garcia issued a lead-off walk to Seminole batter Cali Harrod. Harrod stole second and advanced to third on an overthrow by Halstead. A base hit up the middle by Dani Morgan on a 3-2 count scored Harrod from third and broke up Garcia’s no-hitter. Morgan advanced to second on another overthrow by the UCLA catcher. With two outs and a runner on second, UCLA issued a second intentional walk to FSU leadoff Jessie Warren. Carsyn Gordon walked to load up the bases with two outs for the No. 3 hitter Sydney Sherrill. Sherrill hit a long fly ball down the left field line that was misplayed by the left fielder, scoring three runs.

To the bottom of the fifth and the Seminoles lead 4-0 over UCLA. The Bruins garnered two base runners, bringing the top of their order and K Perez to the plate. K Perez hit a fly ball to left field off the pitch of King to surrender the first out. B Perez stepped in the box after her sister and hit a line drive over the short stop to score a Bruin from second to cut the lead to 4-1. With runners on first and second with one out, King got freshman Jordan swinging for out number two. A Florida State pitching change would bring Kylee Hanson to the mound. Hanson made quick work and struck out Garcia to end the inning and strand two Bruins on base.

In the top of the sixth Zoe Casas led off with a stand up double off the center field wall for the Seminoles. With one out, Dani Morgan struck out but the ball got away from the UCLA catcher. Morgan reached first base on the drop third strike and Casas advanced to third. Garcia got gritty and answered back with two back-to-back strikeouts to end the frame.

Bubba Nickles led off the bottom of the sixth with a four pitch walk. A base hit by Brianna Tautalafua put the Bruin base runners on first and second with one out. Taylor Pack punched a base hit of her own into left field loading the bases. Julie Rodriguez pinch hit and sent a fly ball to shallow center, scoring a run. K Perez stepped into the batter’s box and crushed a home run into the right field bleachers, giving the Bruins the 5-4 lead. B Perez dropped a bunt and was safe without a throw before Jordan delivered a triple down the right field line making it 6-4. A two out pitching change brought Cassidy David to the circle for the Noles. Garcia hit a ground ball to the short stop who delivered a wide throw pulling 1B off the bag, 7-4 UCLA.

Garcia closed the door in the top of the seventh to claim the 7-4 UCLA victory over FSU. Garcia finished the game with 15 strikeouts and allowed four hits. UCLA advances in the winner’s bracket and will face off against Florida on Friday June 1 at 8:30 p.m. Florida State drops to the loser bracket and will come back and play Georgia on Saturday June 2 at 1:30 p.m.

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