Gators Survive Crazy Day, Walk Off to World Series

The Florida Gators won’t be going to Oklahoma City on foot, but they are going there by way of a walk off home run.

In what turned out to be a marathon 11 hour day, the Gators lost the first game on Sunday and had to play a double-header. A series of delays caused the final game to end just after 11:00–11 hours after the first game began. To add to the oddities of the long day, Florida actually won a game that was cut short due to run rules.

Game 2 of the series was a back and forth affair that Washington eventually won. UF scored first, but handed the lead right back after a throwing error. In the fifth inning Lauren Haeger connected on a two-run homer to give Florida a 3-2 lead, but the Huskies answered right back with a two-run blast of their own. That 4-3 deficit was enough to force Game 3.

Washington’s home run should have been a solo one when a baserunner was caught stealing second, but the call on the field was safe. Replay showed that Kelsey Stewart clearly made the tag in time, but the call was made. Moments later, a one run home run that would have tied the game became a two-run, go-ahead score.

The Gators left plenty of runners on board. In the sixth Florida had two runners in scoring position with only one down, but a tag out at home ruined a chance to tie things up. In the seventh a twin killing ended the Gators’ rally.

The Gators got back on the board quickly in Game 3. Stewart hit a leadoff single to short stop, and Brianna Little brought her home on a two-out single of her own; the bases were full when the inning ended.

That is when the first weather delay occurred. Lightning was spotted, and by rule, play cannot resume until 30 minutes after the last sighting. Just when they were closing in on 30 minutes, another flash rest the clock.

When play finally resumed Florida returned to bat leading 1-0. Taylor Schwarz walked and Katie Medina hit a two-out single from the nine hole. At the top of the order Stewart went yard to give the Gators a 4-0 lead. As Stewart’s ball sailed over the right field wall it was illuminated by lightning, causing the second delay.

This delay stretched on for three hours, with the start time being pushed back several times. When the game finally resumed, it was delayed again after one out for a bizarre reason: Washington’s coach protested Florida having a camera in center field. This is a common practice, and both teams had a camera there, but Florida agreed to remove the laptop linked to that camera so that the game could continue.

With the fifth inning finally underway, Lauren Haeger and Little drew a pair of full count walks. Justine McLean drew a another full count, then singled and batted in Jessica Damico, who pinch ran for Haeger. Next up was Kirsti Merritt, who took a page out of the Kelsey Stewart playbook by connecting on a three-run homer.

Merritt’s hit gave the Gators an 8-0 lead, and because they were in the fifth inning, it amounted to a run rule walk off.

Florida (50-12) will advance to the Women’s College World Series, joining seven other teams in the hunt for the title. The Gators will first face the Baylor Bears, who upset Georgia in the Athens Super Regional.

Stay tuned for more information on the WCWS, as the game times are yet to be determined.

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