Florida State came up with timely hitting and a big defensive play to defeat Washington 3-1 on Saturday night and advance to the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series at Oklahoma City.
No. 3 Florida State plays Monday night against the winner of No. 6 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Tennessee on Sunday night.
No. 7 Washington is still alive in the double-elimination tournament and faces Pac-12 rival Stanford on Sunday afternoon with a semifinal berth on the line.
Devyn Flaherty doubled to deep center to lead off the bottom of the second inning for Florida State. Mack Leonard then reached safely on third baseman SilentRain Espinoza’s error. After the first out, Katie Dack singled to load the bases.
Josie Muffley delivered a single to left to drive in Flaherty and move Leonard to third base. Leonard scored on Kaley Mudge’s sacrifice fly to center for a 2-0 Seminoles lead. After Ruby Meylan walked Jahni Kerr to again load the bases, Kalei Harding struck out to end the inning.
Washington cut the deficit in half in the sixth inning when Madison Huskey led off with a double and Kelley Lynch hit a one-out RBI single.
Lindsay Lopez was on the mound for the Huskies when the Seminoles added the game’s final run. Flaherty opened with a single and Leonard sacrifice bunted to Lopez, whose throwing error to first base allowed Flaherty to score for a 3-1 difference.
Washington threatened in the seventh inning against Kathryn Sandercock (28-3), who allowed singles to Sydney Stewart and Baylee Klingler. With Megan Vandergrift running for Stewart and Brooklyn Carter running for Klingler, Sandercock coaxed a flyout, then Huskey smacked a line drive which shortstop Muffley leapt high to snare, then doubled-up Vandergrift off second base for the final out of the game.
–Field Level Media