Infielder facemasks back in discussion

OKLAHOMA CITY – Missouri coach Ehren Earleywine feared the worst when pitcher Tori Finucane was struck by a line drive during a Super Regional game a week ago against UCLA.

Finucane fell to the ground and clutched her face with both hands as players rushed to the mound.

“I thought it was going to be way worse than it ended up being,” Earleywine said. “I thought it was going to cause permanent damage. It came just an inch and a half or two inches away from hitting her temple, which would have been very serious.”

Earleywine said Finucane had significant swelling and ended up with a possible hairline fracture in her sinus cavity, but she’s OK. The injury, which happened during a televised game, has prompted conversation at the Women’s College World Series about whether infielders should wear facemasks. Earleywine said Finucane will wear a facemask when she plays this summer, and he’ll let her decide if she wants to use it next season.

“For me, I’m OK with whatever the player thinks is in their best interest,” Earleywine said. “If they feel safer with a mask on, I think they should be allowed to wear it. If they don’t feel comfortable with it on and are willing to take the risk, I think you should be able to take that risk.”

Dee Abrahamson, NCAA softball secretary-rules editor, said the governing body has been discussing the issue of facial protection for infielders for several years. She said the NCAA doesn’t force them to wear facemasks, in part, because the equipment is in the early stages of development, and there’s not enough research available to ensure that a product exists that would truly protect players.

The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) sets the standards the NCAA uses for batting and football helmets, but the organization does not yet have a standard for softball facemasks for defensive players.

Florida, Michigan in final

Nicole DeWitt’s single in the bottom of the ninth scored Justine McLean and gave Florida a 3-2 extra-inning win over Auburn on Sunday, sending the defending national champion Gators back into the championship series. McLean advanced to second on a wild pitch before DeWitt’s hit off reliever Marcy Harper.

The Gators will play Michigan in the best-of-three championship series. The Wolverines defeated LSU 6-3 to advance.

Sierra Lawrence had a two-run double in the sixth inning to spark the Wolverines’ win. The score was tied at 3 when Lawrence’s hit knocked in Tera Blanco and Olivia Richvalsky. Lawrence stole home for the final run.