Florida State blanks Washington in opener

OKLAHOMA CITY — Florida State’s Anna Shelnutt hit a home run in the sixth inning, and Meghan King pitched a five-hitter to help Florida State defeat Washington 1-0 in Game 1 of the NCAA Women’s College World Series championship series Monday.

King improved to 3-0 with a save at the World Series. She has not allowed an earned run in 271/3 innings in Oklahoma City. The Seminoles (57-12) could clinch their first national title in Game 2 today.

Shelnutt’s home run was Washington pitcher Gabbie Plain’s first earned run allowed in 162/3 innings of World Series action.

There were plenty of opportunities for both teams to score more runs — both teams left seven runners on base.

In the third inning, Florida State’s Morgan Klaevemann reached third base with no outs and did not score. Washington loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third and Florida State escaped without allowing a run.

Plain walked the bases loaded in the fourth with two outs. With a full count, Klaevemann hit a grounder and Washington shortstop Sis Bates tagged Florida State’s Dani Morgan to end the inning.

The Seminoles might have gotten more in the sixth inning after Shelnutt’s home run, but Bates tracked down what appeared to be a sure hit in the outfield, then threw a runner out at second for a double play.

In the seventh, Washington got a runner on with no outs before Florida State third baseman Jessie Warren dove to catch a short pop-up, then doubled up the runner at first.