Gators, Vols to decide World Series trip Sunday
While the Florida Gators’ softball team took game one in convincing fashion, Tennessee used extra innings to take game two, forcing a winner-take-all game three Sunday.
It was their first loss in the postseason this year, and it came at a pivotal time of the season.
The No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers got a walk-off from Haley Bearden in the bottom of the ninth inning to top the No. 5 Gators, 3-2 in the second of a best-of-three super regional series in Gainesville, Sunday.
In the first game of the series, starting pitcher Kelly Barnhill held the Volunteers scoreless in a 3-0 win.
However, on Saturday, Tennessee (43-16) notched the first run against Florida of the postseason in the bottom of the first inning after Aubrey Leach drew a leadoff single, then stole second. Leach took third on a wild pitch from Barnhill and, eventually scored on an RBI single from Chelsea Seggern.
It wasn’t until the fourth when the Gators (48-16) restored some order when Kendyl Lindaman led off with an infield single and a throwing error by Volunteer second baseman Kaitlin Parsons that allowed Hannah Adams to reach first.
Amanda Beane, who was pinch running for Lindaman, scored from third after Jaimie Hoover drilled a grounder into left after the ball bounced off third base.
Barnhill struggled in the bottom half of the inning by allowing the first two batters to reach. Ashley Morgan was hit by a pitch and Cailin Hannon reached on a fielders’-choice. Madison Pacini came up next and hit an RBI single to left.
In the top half of the fifth, Adams hit a two-out RBI single to center field, scoring Jade Caraway from second to tie the game, 2-2.
Caraway was put into scoring position after Amanda Lorenz set a Southeastern Conference record with her 236th walk of her career.
The teams went back and forth into extra innings, with neither team able to get runners close to scoring position.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the ninth when Barnhill walked the bases loaded. She gave way to Natalie Lugo, who issued the game-winning walk to Bearden.
Barnhill took the loss, despite striking out eight.
Florida and Tennessee will play for a trip to the College World Series at 2 p.m. EDT Sunday. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
Elsewhere:
Oklahoma vs. Northwestern – No. 1 Oklahoma advanced to the College World Series with an 8-0 win over No. 16 Northwestern in the second game of their series in Norman.
Alabama vs. Texas – After losing the second game of their series, No. 8 Alabama rebounded with an 8-5 win over No. 8 Texas in the decisive third game of the series Saturday.
Florida State vs. Oklahoma State – The Cowgirls eliminated the defending champions with a 3-2 win over No. 4 Florida State in the third game of their series in Tallahassee.
Arizona vs. Mississippi – No. 6 Arizona took the first game, 5-2 then blasted No. 11 Mississippi, 9-1 in the second game to advance to the College World Series.
Minnesota vs. LSU – The No. 7 Gophers earned their first trip to the College World Series in program history after a 3-0 win over LSU in the second game of their series.
UCLA vs. James Madison – The Cinderella season for the unranked Dukes came to an end after No. 2 UCLA took the second game of its series, 7-2 Saturday.
Washington vs. Kentucky – No. 3 Washington held a 1-0 lead in its series with No. 14 Kentucky. The second game of the series starts late Saturday night in Seattle.