WCWS title series is set
OKLAHOMA CITY — The University of Oklahoma softball program came through under pressure so often in recent years at the Women’s College World Series.
The Sooners’ moment never came Sunday.
Taran Alvelo shut out the winners of the past two national championships as Washington eliminated Oklahoma with a 3-0 victory.
The Sooners (57-5) entered the World Series leading the nation in scoring, but Washington (52-8) shut them out twice twice in a four-day span while ending their hopes of becoming the second program to win three straight titles. UCLA accomplished the feat in 1990.
“I think Washington is an outstanding team, and they beat us twice — flat-out beat us,” Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso said. “They earned everything that they got. No doubt, no doubt.”
Julia DePonte had three hits and two RBIs for the Huskies, who will try to win the program’s second national title starting tonight. They’ll face Florida State, which beat UCLA twice on Sunday, 3-1 and 12-6.
Washington’s rotation is set up well for the best-of-three championship series. Its ace, freshman Gabby Plain, has had plenty of rest after not pitching since Friday.
Alvelo was the ace until she was diagnosed with a stress fracture in her ribs during the regular season. Tarr didn’t hesitate to pit Alvelo against the Sooners, though, despite Plain starting Washington’s first two World Series wins.
“We need her,” Tarr said of Alvelo. “We are not where we are today without her. Gabbie Plain has had a phenomenal season, and she’s amazing, too. We’re not Washington without Taran Alvelo.”
Oklahoma started No. 2 pitcher Paige Lowary, but ace Paige Parker replaced her early and gave up one run in four innings in her final college game. Parker, who threw two shutouts Saturday, finished her career with 10 World Series victories.
Washington got going early Sunday, when DePonte singled to score Sis Bates in the first and Noelle Hee brought DePonte home with a single in the third. DePonte hit a solo homer in the fifth.
Florida State (56-12) is going for its first title in its 10th World Series trip.
In the Seminoles’ first win Sunday, Elizabeth Mason hit a three-run homer with her team trailing 1-0 in the sixth. Florida State never trailed in the second game, getting its runs in chunks with a four-run second, threerun fourth and five-run fifth. Carysn Gordon, Cali Harrod, Sydney Sherrill and Jessie Warren homered for the Seminoles, who won big despite being outhit 11-10.
UCLA, which has a record 11 NCAA titles and won its most recent championship in 2010, finished its season 58-7.