Washington take defending champs Oklahoma out of WCWS

OKLAHOMA CITY, June 4, (AP): Oklahoma came through under pressure so often in recent years at the Women’s College World Series. The Sooners’ moment never came on Sunday. Taran Alvelo shut out the two-time defending national champions and Washington eliminated Oklahoma from the Women’s College World Series with a 3-0 victory.

Oklahoma entered the World Series as the nation’s highest-scoring team, but Washington shut out the Sooners twice in a four-day span. Oklahoma (57-5) was trying to join UCLA as the only programs to win three straight titles.

Julia DePonte had three hits and two RBIs. The Huskies (52-8) will try to win their second national title starting Monday, when they play UCLA or Florida State in the best-of-three championship series. Washington won the title in 2009.

Washington’s pitching is set up for the championship series.

Its ace, freshman Gabby Plain, hasn’t pitched since Friday and is well rested.

Alvelo was Washington’s ace until she suffered a stress fracture in her ribs earlier this season. Tarr didn’t hesitate to start Alvelo against the Sooners, despite Plain starting Washington’s first two World Series wins.

Oklahoma started No. 2 pitcher Paige Lowary on Sunday, but ace Paige Parker replaced her early and gave up one run in four innings in her final college game. She threw two shutouts Saturday and finished her career with 10 World Series victories.

Gasso said Parker has surpassed national team member Keilani Ricketts as the best pitcher in school history.

Washington got it going early in the semifinal. DePonte singled to score Sis Bates and put Washington up 1-0 in the first. Noelle Hee’s single scored DePonte to make it 2-0 in the third.

With two on and two outs in the fifth, Oklahoma’s Shay Knighten lined a pitch to right field, but Trysten Melhart dived and caught it to end the threat.

DePonte hit a solo homer off Parker in the fifth to make it 3-0. Even then, the Sooners felt there was some magic left.