Michigan forces third game at Women’s College World Series

OKLAHOMA CITY – Haylie Wagner hadn’t started in more than two weeks. She was ready when called upon.

The senior threw a complete-game shutout, and Michigan beat Florida and ace Lauren Haeger 1-0 on Tuesday night in the Women’s College World Series to force a deciding third game for the national championship.

Wagner earned the start based on her overall play at the World Series and she kept it going. On Tuesday, she threw a perfect seventh inning and struck out the final two batters to help the Wolverines (60-7) even the best-of-three series 1-1.

“I knew it was going to be tough,” she said. “But I just went out there, attacked them, and I wasn’t going to let them beat me.”

Wagner is 3-0 at the World Series and has thrown 19 innings without allowing an earned run.

Florida snapped Michigan’s 28-game win streak on Monday night. The Wolverines vowed to come back ready.

“We rebounded from last night,” Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. “They got it together, our leadership got them together, and they came out here and they just played Michigan softball. They had great enthusiasm, and they had great heart.”

Kelsey Susalla’s single knocked in Sierra Lawrence in the first inning for the game’s only run. Haeger, the national player of the year, gave up only four hits, but she got no support and fell to 31-2 on the season.

Florida (59-7) could have become the first team to repeat since Arizona in 2006-07. Michigan is still alive for its first title since 2005. The teams meet again today in a winner-take-all game.