Washington Huskies’ softball season ends with semifinal loss to Florida Gators
OKLAHOMA CITY – Washington softball’s season came to an end Sunday afternoon after a 5-2 loss in the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series to No. 1 seeded Florida at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
Delaney Gourley struck out 10 while throwing a two-hitter for Florida.
Gourley (22-4) had two strikes on Julia DePonte with two outs in the seventh before DePonte hit a two-run homer for the Huskies (50-14). The two unearned runs were the first runs Florida has allowed in the World Series.
Gourley was fine with it. The senior was happy with Florida’s win in her first World Series start.
“Today, to just come out and start a game – my team had my back,” she said. “I was really excited. We were all really confident before the game. We just came out on fire.”
Kayli Kvistad homered and drove in three runs for the Gators (58-8).
Florida scored four early runs against Taran Alvelo (35-9), who was pulled after recording four outs. Madi Schreyer gave up one run and two hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief, but the damage was done.
Gourley’s performance allowed coach Tim Walton to rest ace Kelly Barnhill for an extra day. Barnhill, USA Softball’s National Collegiate Player of the Year, hasn’t allowed a run in 11 innings at the World Series. Another strong pitcher, Alesha Ocasio, hasn’t even played in the World Series.
Washington reached the semifinals for the first time since 2013 and the Huskies won 50 games for the first time since 2010.
Florida will play Oklahoma in the championship series. The Sooners (59-9) defeated Oregon 4-2 as Shay Knighten singled in two runs in Oklahoma’s four-run fifth inning.
Defending champion Oklahoma and Florida have combined to win the past four national titles, but are meeting in the championship for the first time.
Paige Parker (26-5) earned the win, and Paige Lowary got the save.
Danica Mercado’s two-run homer in the top of the fifth put the Ducks (54-8) up 2-0. It was her fifth homer of the season.
Oregon’s Megan Kleist (21-4), who earned a win and a save in elimination games Saturday, took a shutout into the fifth before unraveling. After Knighten’s hit in the bottom of the fifth, Nicole Pendley followed with a double to score Knighten and chase Kleist.