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2019 Women’s College World Series: Day 3 Is “Elimination Saturday,” Half the Field Gone

Taran Alvelo set a new Washington World Series record for strikeouts with 16 in the 1-0 shutout of Oklahoma State. Photo by Joseph Barringhaus for UW Softball.

It was Elimination Saturday in Oklahoma City, as the Women’s College World Series field was trimmed from eight teams to four.

Semifinal matchups are now set, and Sunday will determine the teams that will reach the Championship Series.

Here’s how all of the action went down on Saturday…

*****

WASHINGTON ELIMINATES MINNESOTA

In the opening game of the day, Washington took on Minnesota and ace pitcher Amber Fiser, but UW’s Morganne Flores wasted no time in getting the scoring started, launching a solo home run in her first at-bat of the game against Fiser.

The Huskies scored again in the first, as their rally continued on the back of a fielding error and a walk, while a wild pitch allowed the runner to cross home plate.

Washington scored again on a Sis Bates RBI single in the fourth inning before a storm system moved into the Oklahoma City area and caused a delay of more than three hours.

Fans cleared the stadium, leaving just essential personnel for the extended-length delay that brought high winds, dark skies, and some hearty rain.

When the game got underway once again, Washington scored again in the top of the sixth. After Flores lined into a double play that included some nice defense by Minnesota, freshman Sami Reynolds continued her hot hitting with a two-RBI double that brought in a pair of runs and gave the Huskies a 5-1 lead.

Minnesota put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh, with a two-RBI bloop double from Carlie Brandt but Washington brought in Taran Alvelo to close out the ballgame and eliminate the Golden Gophers.

*****

ALABAMA KNOCKS OUT FLORIDA

Game 2 of the day featured an all-SEC matchup between Alabama and Florida, and quickly turned into a lopsided affair as Alabama put six runs on the board in the first inning against Kelly Barnhill.

The Crimson Tide chased Barnhill from the game in the first, and ultimately scored 15 runs in an offensive explosion.

Florida went through the depths of their pitching staff throughout the game, using four pitchers in total to try to quiet the Crimson Tide bats.

In the sixth inning, with the game firmly out of reach for his team, Florida coach Tim Walton re-entered Barnhill into the game, where she warmed up and threw one pitch before Walton again emerged from the dugout, embraced Barnhill, and took the ball from her, giving his ace an opportunity to exit to a standing ovation from the Oklahoma City crowd.

*****

WASHINGTON ADVANCES WITH WIN OVER OSU

Saturday’s evening session began with Washington taking the field once again, this time against Oklahoma State in another elimination game.

The hometown Cowgirls had quite the crowd in attendance in OKC, in what could be the final game of the stellar careers of players like Samantha Show and Madi Sue Montgomery.

The game was a pitcher’s duel to the fullest between Show and Washington’s Taran Alvelo, with an RBI single by Amirah Milloy providing the difference.

Alvelo set a Washington WCWS record with 16 strikeouts in the game.

After the game, both Washington head coach Heather Tarr and Oklahoma State head coach Kenny Gajewski each noted that they believed whichever team scored first could be victorious, in the midst of such a hearty pitching battle.

*****

ALABAMA MOVES ON AFTER DEFEATING ARIZONA

Saturday’s nightcap featured Alabama taking on Arizona in the day’s final elimination game.

The Crimson Tide continued their momentum, striking with two runs in the third inning with the only scoring of the ballgame to earn a berth in the WCWS semifinals.

The Tide made Arizona pay for a pair of walks, as Bailey Hemphill came through in the clutch yet again with a two-RBI double in that third inning.

Freshman sensation Montana Fouts had a stellar outing, limiting the Wildcats to three hits and no runs, while collecting nine strikeouts.

Arizona started Alyssa Denham, who was charged with the loss after giving up the Hemphill double, with Taylor McQuillin ending her career as a Wildcat with a four-inning, one-hit performance to close the game in the circle for UA.

*****

SUNDAY SCHEDULE:

Sunday’s semifinals will feature UCLA vs. Washington and Oklahoma taking on Alabama; the Huskies and Crimson Tide will have to force an if necessary game if they are to advance to the Championship Series.

  • UCLA vs. Washington | 1 p.m. ET on ESPN
  • Oklahoma vs. Alabama | 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
  • UCLA vs. Washington | 7 p.m. ET on ESPN (if necessary)
  • Oklahoma vs. Alabama | 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 (if necessary)

— Justin McLeod, Extra Inning Softball College Correspondent

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