Women’s College World Series Washington vs. Oregon Recap
Game 5: Winner’s Bracket Washington vs. Oregon
Friday night brought a Pac-12 rival matchup between Washington and Oregon. Freshman Gabbie Plain earned the start for Washington in the circle and commanded the mound from the very first pitch of the game. Junior Megan Kleist got the start for Oregon and shut things down for the Ducks out of the gate as well.
The much anticipated game began as a pitcher’s duel. After four innings of play, the score was deadlocked at 0-0 with each starter giving up one hit apiece.
In the top of the fifth, Oregon senior Lauren Lindvall led off the inning with a hard hit to center. But the Washington defense executed some major plays to get out of the inning and keep the score at 0.
In the bottom of the inning, almost like what we saw in the top of the frame, Noelle Hee led off with a hard hit up the middle. Emma Helm then dropped a bunt and Oregon third baseman Jenna Lilley threw to second, but not in time and the ball kicked away, advancing Hee to third.
With runners on the corners, Head Coach Heather Tarr called for pinch hitter Nawai Kaupe. The freshman attempted to squeeze, but it was gobbled up by Lilley at third for the first out. That brought Trysten Melhart to the plate, who drew a four pitch walk to load the bases. Kelly Burdick hit a ground ball to DJ Sanders at short stop who made the throw to home, but it was too high and the run from third would come in to score. Van Zee stepped up and with bases loaded, hit a ball down the right field line, scoring two more.
With Husky base runners on second and third with one out, Oregon made a pitching change and brought in freshman Miranda Elish. Sis Bates at the plate, hit a blooper that landed between the second baseman and right fielder to score the runner from third, making it 4-0 Washington. Elish buckled down and retired the next two Husky hitters via strike out.
Washington made a pitching change in the top of the sixth, bringing in Taran Alvelo. With two outs, Alvelo issued a walk, followed by a hit to put two Duck runners on. A bobbled ball by the catcher moved the Oregon base runners to second and third. Alvelo got Lauren Burke to ground out to short stop to end the inning and prevented the threatening runners to cross the plate.
In the bottom of the sixth, Hee drew a walk. With one out, Taryn Atlee punched a fly ball just out of reach of the center fielder, allowing Hee to come around and score. Melhart next hit a ground ball to short stop, and the throw to first scored another run from third, 6-0 Huskies.
A leadoff base hit by Lauren Lindvall gave the Ducks some momentum in the top of the seventh. With no outs, Washington made another pitching change and brought back in Gabbie Plain. With one out, a ground ball up the middle, that stayed in the infield, put another Duck runner on. With runners on first and third, pinch hitter April Utecht, hit a ball to the Husky second baseman who miss-played it, scoring the Ducks first run. DJ Sanders stepped into the box with runners on first and second and hit into a fielder’s choice. With two outs, Gwen Svekis punched a ball over the third baseman, scoring a second run. The final out was made after the base runner at second ran into Sis Bates at short stop, who was trying to make the play.
The final score was 6-2. Washington moves on and will play on Sunday June 3 at noon. Their opponent is to be determined. Oregon drops down to the loser bracket and will play the winner of Georgia vs. Florida State on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
