The 2020 NCAA Division I Softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began February 6, 2020. The season ended on March 12, 2020, when the NCAA cancelled all winter championships and spring sports seasons due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament and 2020 Women’s College World Series, to be held Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, did not occur.
REGULAR SEASON
Softball America Wilson Division 1 Collegiate Player of the Year – Miranda Elish, Texas (P) (11-3, 84 IP, 96 Ks, ERA 1.25, 2 Shutouts; 20-54, .370, 4 HRs, 19 RBIs, 14 Runs)
Softball America Wilson Division 1 Collegiate Pitcher of the Year – Megan Faraimo, UCLA (P) (13-3, 90 IP, 149 IP, ERA 0.85, 5 Shutout)
Prior to the season ending this is where the final rankings and standings sat:
Rank
School
Points
Record
Previous
1
UCLA (32)
800
25-1
1
2
Washington
763
23-2
2
3
Texas
732
24-3
3
4
Arizona
693
22-3
4
5
LSU
649
21-3
5
6
Oklahoma
635
20-4
6
7
Florida
615
23-4
7
8
Louisiana
559
18-6
8
9
Oregon
531
22-2
9
10
Alabama
465
14-8
10
11
Kentucky
447
20-4
11
12
Florida State
418
17-7
12
12
Oklahoma State
418
19-5
13
14
Georgia
372
23-5
14
15
South Carolina
300
17-6
16
16
Virginia Tech
295
21-4
17
17
Arizona State
280
22-7
15
18
Michigan
233
15-8
18
19
Arkansas
185
19-6
20
20
Mississippi State
179
23-3
21
21
UCF
167
21-5-1
22
22
Minnesota
161
15-9-1
19
23
Baylor
122
19-5
24
24
Fresno State
93
21-4
25
25
Missouri
82
19-7
23
Oklahoma City just went through the final series of renovations to the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium which were completed weeks before the Women’s College World Series.
2020 ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
For a behind the scenes tour of the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex click here.
Kinsley Washington’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Bruins past Oklahoma 5-4 on Tuesday night, and UCLA won the championship series 2-0.
It is the Bruins’ 13th national title, 12th NCAA title and first championship since 2010.
“The history is as old as dirt,” said UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, who has been with the program in some capacity for three decades. “I’m so proud to be a part of it, player, assistant, head coach. This is about the here and now. This is about UCLA softball in 2019. This team got on a mission.”
Rachel Garcia was named the Most Outstanding Player of the World Series. She threw 179 pitches and hit a walk-off homer in the semifinal win over Washington on Sunday, then got the victory in Game 1 against Oklahoma on Monday. She gave up four runs and eight hits to earn the win in the clincher on Tuesday.
Brianna Tautalafua had three hits, and Washington and Aaliyah Jordan each had two for UCLA (56-6).
The Bruins rolled past the Sooners 16-3 in Game 1 on Monday and tied the record for most runs scored in a World Series game.
Most Outstanding Player – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
Batting Leader – Aaliyah Jordan, UCLA – .571
RBI Leader – Rachel Garcia, UCLA – 8
Home Run Leader – Aaliyah Jordan, UCLA – 3
ERA Leader – Montana Fouts, Alabama – 1.00
Strikeout Leader – Giselle Juarez, Oklahoma – 40
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
P – Taran Alvelo, Washington
P – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
2B – Kinsley Washington, UCLA
3B – Sydney Romero, Oklahoma
OF – Sami Reynolds, Washington
OF – Nicole Mendes, Oklahoma
RF – Aaliyah Jordan, UCLA
CF – Bubba Nickles, UCLA
UTIL – Bailey Hemphill, Alabama
UTIL – Samantha Show, Oklahoma St.
Northwestern qualifies for the Super Regional, 4-1.
SUPER REGIONALS
NORMAN SUPER REGIONAL
Oklahoma 3 Northwestern 0
Oklahoma 8 Northwestern 0
Oklahoma qualifies for the WCWS 2-0.
LOS ANGELES SUPER REGIONAL
UCLA 6 James Madison 1
UCLA 7 James Madison 2
UCLA qualifies for the WCWS 2-0.
SEATTLE SUPER REGIONAL
Washington 3 Kentucky 0
Washington 5 Kentucky 0
Washington qualifies for the WCWS 2-0.
TALLAHASSEE SUPER REGIONAL
Oklahoma State 3 Florida State 1 (9 innings)
Florida State 4 Oklahoma State 1
Oklahoma State 3 Florida State 2
Oklahoma State qualifies for the WCWS 2-0.
GAINESVILLE SUPER REGIONAL
Florida 3 Tennessee 0
Tennessee 3 Florida 2 (9 innings)
Florida 2 Tennessee 1 (8 innings)
Florida qualifies for the WCWS 2-1.
TUCSON SUPER REGIONAL
Arizona 5 Ole Miss 2
Arizona 9 Ole Miss 1
Arizona qualifies for the WCWS 2-0.
MINNEAPOLIS SUPER REGIONAL
Minnesota 5 LSU 3
Minnesota 3 LSU 0
Minnesota qualifies for the WCWS 2-0.
TUSCALOOSA SUPER REGIONAL
Alabama 3 Texas 0
Texas 7 Alabama 5
Alabama 8 Texas 5
Alabama qualifies for the WCWS 2-1.
REGULAR SEASON INFORMATION
Honda Sports Award – Rachel Garcia, UCLA (P) (29-1, 286 K, 202 IP, ERA 1.14; 7 Shutouts, 59-172, .343, 11 HR, 57 RBI) Rachel was also awarded Broderick-Honda Cup for College Athlete of the Year for all NCAA Women’s Sports.
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
Schutt/NFCA National Pitcher of the Year – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
Schutt/NFCA National Player of the Year – Abbey Cheek, Kentucky (3B) (65-152, .427, 20 HR, 53 RBI, 54 Runs, 64 BB)
ESPN Softball Division-1 Collegiate Player of the Year – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
Softball America Wilson Division-1 Collegiate Pitcher of the Year – Giselle Juarez, Oklahoma (P) (28-4, 186 IP, 269 K, ERA 1.39, 7 Shutouts)
Softball America Wilson Division-1 Collegiate Pitcher of the Year – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Gabbie Plain, Washington
P – Amber Fiser, Minnesota
P – Giselle Juarez, Oklahoma
C – Dejah Mulipola, Arizona
1B – Kayla Konwent, Wisconsin
2B – Caleigh Clifton, Oklahoma
3B – Abbey Cheek, Kentucky
SS – Sis Bates, Washington
OF – Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza, Arizona
OF – Morgan Howe, Arizona State
OF – Amanda Lorenz, Florida
UTIL – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
UTIL – Cait Brooks, Notre Dame
AL – Nicole Newman, Drake
AL – Sydney Sherrill, Florida State
AL – Kylan Becker, Mississippi
AL – Taylor McQuillin, Arizona
AL – Sydney Romero, Oklahoma
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Kelly Barnhill, Florida
P – Georgina Corrick, USF
P – Montana Fouts, Alabama
C – Morganne Flores, Washington
1B – Kaylee Tow, Alabama
2B – Reyna Carranco, Arizona
3B – Amanda Sanchez, LSU
SS – Lili Piper, Ohio State
OF – Bubba Nickles, UCLA
OF – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma
OF – Falepolima Aviu, Oklahoma
UTIL – Shelbi Sunseri, LSU
UTIL – Ulufa Leilua, Mississippi State
AL – Jessie Harper, Arizona
AL – Bailey Hemphill, Alabama
AL – Autumn Storms, Arkansas
AL – Janae Jefferson, Texas
AL – Meghan King, Florida State
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Taran Alvelo, Washington
P – Summer Ellyson, Louisiana
P – Danielle Williams, Northwestern
C – Mia Davidson, Mississippi State
1B – Grace Green, Oklahoma
2B – Aubrey Leach, Tennessee
3B – Skylee James, Illinois-Chicago
SS – Alyssa DiCarlo, Georgia
OF – Kindra Hackbarth, Arizona State
OF – Kate Gordon, James Madison
OF – Karli Hamilton, Texas Tech
UTIL – Odicci Alexander, James Madison
UTIL – Kendyl Lindaman, Florida
AL – Megan Good, James Madison
AL – Samantha Show, Oklahoma State
AL – Miranda Elish, Texas
AL – Emily Clark, Ohio State
AL – Rachel Anderson, Southeast Missouri State
2018 held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 31 – June 5.
Champion – Florida State Seminoles (58-12) Runner Up – Washington Huskies (52-10)
Standing in the circle with two outs in the seventh inning, Meghan King flung the ball toward the plate. The ball ricocheted off the bat of Taylor Van Zee and skipped along the ground. King took a step toward the ball; the crowd had gone quiet and she felt like everything was moving in slow motion. This was the moment, her moment. And all she could think about was how thankful she was for all those reps of pitcher fielding practice so that she wouldn’t screw this up.
King picked up the ball and threw it to first, getting the final out of the Women’s College World Series to give Florida State an 8-3 victory over Washington and its first softball national championship. It is also the first for the ACC.
It was a clean ending to a game that began as a comedy of errors Tuesday. Florida State, which had looked so collected the night before, was reeling in the first inning. Van Zee started it all with a leadoff hit off King. Then came a passed ball, a sacrifice bunt, a bad throw, a miscue in center field on a pop fly, and a line drive and grounder that drove in runs. When the dust settled, Washington was up 3-0.
But what could have been the beginning of the end for FSU only put the team back in a familiar position. The infield huddled in the dugout around the watercooler and busted out in laughter. Coach Lonni Alameda joked with her players, saying, “This is perfect because we’re the Cardiac Kids and we need to be down in order to come back. We’re going to score some runs. We’ll be all right.”
Not one of the Seminoles had any doubt. Why would they? Although they came into the game with a 1-0 series lead — a position FSU had not been in all postseason long as it survived six elimination games — they have shown that they are most comfortable, and lethal, with their backs against the wall. Perhaps the only way they could win while ahead was to fall behind.
The comeback began in earnest just a few moments later when catcher Anna Shelnutt, dubbed “Postseason Anna,” smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the first. It was her second home run in as many nights.
Then it was King, a redshirt junior, who returned to the circle and proceeded to pitch six scoreless innings. After giving up two hits in the first inning, she gave up just another three the rest of the night. The FSU bats did their jobs, extending the lead to 8-3, but it was King who shut down Washington’s offense to secure the victory.
King’s tournament ERA of 0.20 ranks as the lowest in Women’s College World Series history. In 34⅓ innings, she allowed just one earned run, in the first inning of Tuesday’s game. While discussion all tournament long focused on Paige Parker, Kelly Barnhill and Rachel Garcia, King turned in what can only be described as one of the greatest WCWS performances of all time.
Her focus and consistency — and her ability to shake off Tuesday’s rocky start — lifted Florida State (58-12) to a national championship few thought possible. With its sweep of Washington (52-10), Florida State became the third team in the 37-year history of the Women’s College World Series to lose its WCWS opener and still win the title.
Most Outstanding Player – Jessie Warren, Florida State
Batting Leader – Bubba Nickles, UCLA – .545
RBI Leader – Elizabeth Mason, Florida State – 9
Home Run Leader – 8 tied at 2. Bubba Nickles, UCLA; Jessie Warren Florida State; Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma; Taylor Pack, UCLA; Sydney Sherrill, Florida State; Jordan Roberts, Florida; Elizabeth Mason, Florida State; Anna Shelnutt, Florida State.
ERA Leader – Meghan King, Florida State – 0.20
Strikeout Leader – Rachel Garcia, UCLA – 42
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
P – Montana Fouts, Alabama
P – Taran Alvelo, Washington
P – Rachel Garcia, UCLA
2B – Kinsley Washington, UCLA
3B – Sydney Romero, Oklahoma
OF – Sami Reynolds, Washington
RF – Jocelyn Alo, Oklahoma
CF – Nicole Mendes, Oklahoma
RF – Aaliyah Jordan, UCLA
CF – Bubba Nickles, UCLA
UTIL – Bailey Hemphill, Alabama
UTIL – Samantha Show, Oklahoma St.
SCORES
Oregon 11 Arizona State 6
Washington 2 Oklahoma 0
Florida 11 Georgia 3 (5 inn.)
UCLA 7 Florida State 4
Washington 6 Oregon 2
UCLA 6 Florida 5
Oklahoma 2 Arizona State 0 – Arizona State eliminated
Florida State 7 Georgia 2 – Georgia eliminated
Oklahoma 2 Florida 0 – Florida eliminated
Florida State 4 Oregon 1 – Oregon eliminated
Washington 3 Oklahoma 0 – Oklahoma eliminated
Florida State 3 UCLA 1
Florida State 12 UCLA 6 – UCLA eliminated
Florida State 1 Washington 0
Florida State 8 Washington 3 – Washington eliminated
FINAL STANDINGS
1. Florida State Seminoles (6-1)
2. Washington Huskies (3-2)
3. UCLA Bruins (2-2)
4. Oklahoma Sooners (2-2)
5t. Oregon Ducks (1-2)
5t. Florida Gators (1-2)
7t. Baylor Bears (0-2)
7t. Arizona State Sun Devils (0-2)
2018 Florida State Seminoles
NATIONAL SEEDS
Florida
Arizona
Oregon
Florida State
UCLA
Washington
Auburn
Tennessee
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Utah
Ole Miss
LSU
Kentucky
Baylor
Alabama
REGIONALS
EUGENE REGIONAL
Drake 3 BYU 2
Oregon 4 Albany 0
Oregon 5 Drake 0
BYU 16 Albany 0 – Albany eliminated
Drake 3 BYU 0 – BYU eliminated
Oregon 3 Drake 0 – Drake eliminated
Oregon qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
GAINESVILLE REGIONAL
Ohio State 3 South Florida 0
Florida 8 Bethune Cookman 0 (6 inn.)
Florida 10 Ohio State 2 (6 inn.)
South Florida 3 Bethune Cookman 0 – Bethune Cookman eliminated
Ohio State 3 South Florida 2 – South Florida eliminated
Florida 4 Ohio State 0 – Ohio State eliminated
Florida qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
LOS ANGELES REGIONAL
Cal St. Fullerton 2 Texas St. 1
UCLA 3 Sacramento St. 0
Cal St. Fullerton 3 UCLA 2 (9 inn.)
Texas St. 8 Sacramento St. 4 – Sacramento St. eliminated
UCLA 14 Texas State 1 (5 inn.) – Texas State eliminated
UCLA 3 Cal St. Fullerton 0
UCLA 6 Cal St. Fullerton 4 – Cal St. Fullerton eliminated
UCLA qualifies for the Super Regional, 4-1.
NORMAN REGIONAL
Tulsa 9 Missouri 1
Oklahoma 9 Boston U. 0 (5 inn.)
Oklahoma 8 Tulsa 0 (6 inn.)
Missouri 10 Boston U. 8 – Boston U. eliminated
Missouri 6 Tulsa 5 – Tulsa eliminated
Oklahoma 7 Missouri 0 – Missouri eliminated
Oklahoma qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
SEATTLE REGIONAL
Texas 2 Minnesota 1
Washington 8 Boise St. 0 (5 inn.)
Washington 2 Texas 1
Minnesota 11 Boise St. 3 – Boise St. eliminated
Minnesota 3 Texas 0 – Texas eliminated
Washington 5 Minnesota 2 – Minnesota eliminated
Washington qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
TALLAHASSEE REGIONAL
Auburn 5 Kennesaw St. 2
Florida State 8 Jacksonville St. 0
Florida State 2 Auburn 1 (8 inn.)
Jacksonville St. 5 Kennesaw St. 3 (10 inn.) – Kennesaw St. eliminated
Jacksonville St. 3 Auburn 2 – Auburn eliminated
Florida State 10 Jacksonville State 0 – Jacksonville St. eliminated
Florida State qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
ATHENS REGIONAL
Northwestern 3 vs. California 2 (8 inn.)
Georgia 6 Harvard 2
Georgia 12 Northwestern 0 (6 inn.)
California 10 Harvard 1 – Harvard eliminated
Northwestern 4 California 3 – California eliminated
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Rachel Garcia, UCLA (.339, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 29-4, 1.31 ERA, 315 K)
NFCA National Player of the Year – Rachel Garcia, UCLA (.339, 11 HR, 54 RBI, 29-4, 1.31 ERA, 315 K)
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Kelly Barnhill JR. Florida Gators
P – Megan Kleist JR. Oregon Ducks
P – Giselle Juarez SO. Arizona State Sun Devils
C – Gwen Svekis SR. Oregon Ducks
1B – Alyssa Palomino SO. Arizona Wildcats
2B – Aubrey Leach JR. Tennessee Lady Vols
3B – Sydney Romero JR. Oklahoma Sooners
SS – Sis Bates SO. Washington Huskies
OF – Aaliyah Jordan FR. UCLA Bruins
OF – Jessie Scroggins SR. Baylor Bears
OF – Amanda Lorenz JR. Florida Gators
UTIL – Rachel Garcia SO. UCLA Bruins
UTIL – Jocelyn Alo FR. Oklahoma Sooners
AL – Holly Speers JR. Kent State Golden Flashes
AL – Paige Parker SR. Oklahoma Sooners
AL – Vanessa Shippy SR. Oklahoma State Cowgirls
AL – Meghan Beaubien FR. Michigan Wolverines
AL – Ivie Drake SR. Georgia State Panthers
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Miranda Elish SO. Oregon Ducks
P – Kylee Hanson SR. FSU Seminoles
P – Brittany Gray SR. Georgia Bulldogs
C – Kendyl Lindaman SO. Minnesota Golden Gophers
1B – Victoria Vidales SR. Texas A&M Aggies
2B – Kylee Perez SR. UCLA Bruins
3B – Nicole DeWitt SR. Florida Gators
SS – Lili Piper JR. Ohio State Buckeyes
OF – Kaylee Tow FR. Alabama Crimson Tide
OF – Cortni Emanuel SR. Georgia Bulldogs
OF – Annie Murphy SR. Boston College Eagles
UTIL – Savannah Heebner JR. Houston Cougars
UTIL – Taylor Rowland SO. Long Beach State 49ers
AL – Allie Walljasper SR. LSU Tigers
AL – Rachel Lewis FR. Northwestern Wildcats
AL – Jessica Warren SR. FSU Seminoles
AL – Janae Jefferson FR. Texas Longhorns
AL – Taran Alvelo JR. Washington Huskies
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Carly Hoover SR. LSU Tigers
P – Nicole Newman JR. Drake Bulldogs
P – Randi Rupp SR. Texas State Bobcats
C – Libby Sugg JR. BYU Cougars
1B – Jessica Hartwell JR. Texas Tech Red Raiders
2B – Sydney Sherrill FR. FSU Seminoles
3B – Jena Cozza SR. UMass Minutewomen
SS – Alyssa DiCarlo JR. Georgia Bulldogs
OF – Kara Shutt SR. Elon Phoenix
OF – Kate Gordon SO. James Madison Dukes
OF – Paige Murphy SR. Eastern Kentucky Colonels
UTIL – Odicci Alexander SO. James Madison Dukes
UTIL – Maddie Roth JR. Kennesaw State Owls
AL – Meghan Gregg SR. Tennessee Lady Vols
AL – Faith Canfield JR. Michigan Wolverines
AL – Gabbie Plain FR. Washington Huskies
AL – Katie Prebble FR. Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs
AL – Jenna Lilley SR. Oregon Ducks
Oklahoma softball is the national champion for the second straight season and third time in five years.
Even as defending champions, it seemed for most of the season that Oklahoma was unlikely to repeat.
The Sooners earned just a No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament. They lost their NCAA opener to North Dakota State before rallying, then had to go to Auburn and win a super regional.
Even when they recovered at the Women’s College World Series and reached the championship round, they faced No. 1 seed Florida and its two All-American pitchers.
The Sooners defeated No. 1 Florida 5-4 Tuesday night in Game 2 to clinch the two-game sweep of the Gators in Oklahoma City. Following Monday night’s 17-inning marathon that was won on a three-run home run from Shay Knighten, it was Knighten again who came up clutch in the second game. The first baseman’s three-run double in the second inning closed out a four-run frame and put the Sooners ahead for good at 5-3.
The Oklahoma Sooners two-game sweep of the Florida Gators in the Women’s College World Series Finals (June 5-6 on ESPN) averaged a total live audience (TV + streaming) of 1,720,000 viewers, the most-watched sweep in Women’s College World Series Finals history. The Sooner-Gators’ two games in the best-of-three format was up 33% from 2014, the last time the WCWS Finals failed to go to a decisive third game. This year’s two-game average was also up 33% over last season’s WCWS Finals first two games (June 6-7, 2016) featuring Oklahoma and Auburn. The Sooners won the series in three games.
Most Outstanding Player – Shay Knighten, Oklahoma
Batting Leader – Alexis Mack, Oregon – .545
RBI Leader – Kivstad, Florida – 5
Home Run Leader – Kivstad, Florida – 2
Home Run Leader – Ali Aguilar, Washington – 2
ERA Leader – N/A
Strikeout Leader – Rachel Garcia, UCLA 16
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
P – Kelly Barnhill, Florida
P – Delanie Gourley, Florida
P – Paige Lowary, Oklahoma
P – Paige Parker, Oklahoma
IF – Alexis Mack, Oregon
IF – Mia Camuso, Oregon
IF – Ali Aguilar, Washington
OF – Amanda Lorenz, Florida
OF – Justine McLean, Florida
UTIL – Nicole Mendes, Oklahoma
UTIL – Aleshia Ocasio, Florida
Honda Sports Award – Kelly Barnhill, Florida (26-4, 0.61 ERA, 359 K)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Kelly Barnhill, Florida (26-4, 0.61 ERA, 359 K)
NFCA National Player of the Year – Megan Good, James Madison (38-3, 0.63 ERA, 271 K, .383, 12 HR, 58 RBI)
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Kelly Barnhill, Florida Gators
P – Sara Groenewegen, Minnesota Golden Gophers
P – Danielle O’Toole, Arizona Wildcats
C – Kendyl Lindaman, Minnesota Golden Gophers
1B – Jessie Harper, Arizona Wildcats
2B – Hannah Flippen, Utah Utes
3B – Jessica Warren, FSU Seminoles
SS – DJ Sanders, ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
OF – Bailey Landry, LSU Tigers
OF – Aleah Craighton, ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
OF – Amanda Lorenz, Florida Gators
UTIL – Megan Good, James Madison Dukes
UTIL – Sahvanna Jaquish, LSU Tigers
AL – Meghan Gregg, Tennessee Lady Vols
AL – Aleshia Ocasio, Florida Gators
AL – Jessica Burroughs, FSU Seminoles
AL – Delanie Gourley, Florida Gators
AL – Nikki Udria, Oregon Ducks
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Megan Kleist, Oregon Ducks
P – Megan Betsa, Michigan Wolverines
P – Randi Rupp, Texas State Bobcats
C – Jenavee Peres, San Diego State Aztecs
1B – Shay Knighten, Oklahoma Sooners
2B – Caleigh Clifton, Oklahoma Sooners
3B – Katiyana Mauga, Arizona Wildcats
SS – Morgan Zerkle, Marshall Thundering Herd
OF – Lea Foerster, Michigan State Spartans
OF – Morgan Klaevemann, FSU Seminoles
OF – Kelly Christner, Michigan Wolverines
UTIL – Sierra Hyland, Cal Poly Mustangs
UTIL – Kendra Lynch, North Carolina Tar Heels
AL – Rachel Garcia, UCLA Bruins
AL – Paige Parker, Oklahoma Sooners
AL – Mo Mercado, Arizona Wildcats
AL – Lindsey Cargill, Baylor Bears
AL – Emily Watson, Tulsa Hurricanes
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Allie Walljasper, LSU Tigers
P – Kaylee Carlson, Auburn Tigers
P – McKenna Bull, BYU Cougars
P – Jordan Dixon, Marshall Thundering Herd
C – Chloe Miller, Wisconsin Badgers
1B – Alex Powers, FSU Seminoles
2B – Faith Canfield, Michigan Wolverines
3B – Riley Sartain, Texas A&M Aggies
SS – Lili Piper, Ohio State Buckeyes
OF – Cortni Emanuel, Georgia Bulldogs
OF – Nicole Evans, Illinois Fighting Illini
OF – Danica Mercado, Oregon Ducks
UTIL – Sydney O’Hara, Syracuse Orange
UTIL – Vanessa Shippy, Oklahoma State Cowgirls
AL – Emily Lochten, FAU Owls
AL – Kayli Kvistad, Florida Gators
AL – Katie Reed, Kentucky Wildcats
AL – Jessica Twaddle, Murray State Racers
AL – Ali Aguilar, Washington Huskies
Oklahoma sophomore left-hander Paige Parker, however, stayed just a little bit above the fray.
The Independence, Mo., product watched from the dugout as Auburn rallied from a 7-0 deficit on Tuesday night to set up Wednesday night’s deciding third game of the best-of-three championship series. Parker was far from perfect on the final night of the 2016 collegiate campaign, but she battled a pesky Auburn offense all night and led the Sooners to a second national championship in four years.
Auburn’s Jade Rhodes hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, but that was it as Oklahoma won 2-1 in front of a record crowd of 8,367 for Session 10 at Hall of Fame Stadium.
Parker (38-3) tossed her fifth complete game of the week, allowing five hits and striking out five. Her fourth complete game came two nights ago in a 3-2 win that saw Auburn manage four hits and two runs, both coming in a spine-tingling seventh inning that ended when first baseman Shay Knighten threw out the tying run at home plate to end the game.
“It was one of the most fantastic feelings that I’ve ever had in my whole life,” said Parker, who was named the 2016 WCWS Most Outstanding Player after throwing 36 innings over the last seven days. “Our fans this year have been so vital to all of the things that we’ve done. They’ve supported us so much, and to have all of them here and to have all of our families here, as well, just meant so much to us, and it was just incredible to get to share this feeling with them, as well.”
Most Outstanding Player – Paige Parker, Oklahoma
Batting Leader – Alex Powers, Florida State – .571
RBI Leader – Shay Knighten, Oklahoma – 8
Home Run Leader – Jade Rhodes, Auburn – 3
ERA Leader – N/A
Strikeout Leader – Paige Parker, Oklahoma – 25
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
N/A
SCORES
Georgia 5 Florida State 4
Auburn 10 UCLA 3
Oklahoma 3 Alabama 0 (8 inn.)
Michigan 2 LSU 0
Florida State 8 UCLA 4 – UCLA eliminated
LSU 6 Alabama 4 – Alabama eliminated
Auburn 4 Georgia 3
Oklahoma 7 Michigan 5
Florida State 1 Michigan 0 – Michigan eliminated
LSU 4 Georgia 1 – Georgia eliminated
Auburn 8 Florida State 7 (8 inn.) – Florida State eliminated
Oklahoma State 3 Northwestern 2 (9 inn.) – Northwestern eliminated
Oklahoma State 5 Georgia 3
Georgia 6 Oklahoma State 0 – Oklahoma State eliminated
Georgia qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-1.
Gainesville Super Regional
Georgia 3 Florida 0
Georgia 3 Florida 2
Georgia qualifies for the WCWS, 2-0.
Ann Arbor Super Regional
Michigan 5 Missouri 3
Michigan 5 Missouri 4
Michigan qualifies for the WCWS, 2-0.
Norman Super Regional
Oklahoma 8 Louisiana-Lafayette 2
Oklahoma 7 Louisiana-Lafayette 6
Oklahoma qualifies for the WCWS, 2-0.
Auburn Super Regional
Arizona 5 Auburn 3
Auburn 4 Arizona 1
Auburn 6 Arizona 1
Auburn qualifies for the WCWS, 2-1.
Eugene Super Regional
Oregon 8 UCLA 1
UCLA 2 Oregon 1
UCLA 2 Oregon 1
UCLA qualifies for the WCWS, 2-1.
Tuscaloosa Super Regional
Alabama 2 Washington 1 (8 inn.)
Alabama 5 Washington 2
Alabama qualifies for the WCWS, 2-0.
Harrisonburg Super Regional
James Madison 3 LSU 2
LSU 2 James Madison 0
LSU 3 James Madison 2
LSU qualifies for the WCWS, 2-1.
Tallahassee Super Regional
Florida State 6 Utah 2
Florida State 3 Utah 0
Florida State qualifies for the WCWS, 2-0.
REGULAR SEASON INFORMATION
Honda Sports Award – Sierra Romero, Michigan (.450, 19 HR, 79 RBI, 15 SB)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Sierra Romero, Michigan (.450, 19 HR, 79 RBI, 15 SB)
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Delanie Gourley, Florida
P – Paige Parker, Oklahoma
P – Megan Good, James Madison
C – Lexie Elkins, Lousiana-Lafayette
1B – Tera Blanco, Michigan
2B – Sierra Romero, Michigan
3B – Kasey Cooper, Auburn
SS – Kristen Brown, North Carolina
OF – Haylie McCleney, Alabama
OF – Emily Crane, Missouri
OF – Koral Costa, Oregon Ducks
UT Jailyn Ford, James Madison
Kimberlee Souza, Washington
AL – Sierra Lawrence, Michigan
AL – Aleshia Ocasio, Florida
AL – Sara Groenewegen, Minnesota
AL – Kelsey Nunley, Kentucky
AL – Marjani Knighten, Nebraska
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Kylee Hanson, Florida Atlantic
P – Megan Betsa, Michigan
P – Alex Stewart, Lousiana-Lafayette
C – Erika Piancastelli, McNeese State
1B – Alex Powers, Florida State
2B – Emily Carosone, Auburn
3B – Mysha Sataraka, UCLA
SS – Delaney Spaulding, UCLA
OF – Aleah Craighton, Lousiana-Lafayette
OF – Erin Miller, Oklahoma
OF – Lindsey Stephens, Texas
UTIL – Erica Nunn, USF
UTIL – Kayli Kvistad, Florida
AL – Sydney Littlejohn, Alabama
AL – Nikki Udria, Oregon
AL – Shay Knighten, Oklahoma
AL – Leona Lafaele, Alabama
AL – Ali Aguilar, Washington
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Cheridan Hawkins, Oregon
P – Jessica Burroughs, Florida State
P – Nisa Ontiveros, California
C – Emily Naegele, Northern Illinois
1B – Jade Rhodes, Auburn
2B – Hannah Flippen, Utah
3B – Bianka Bell, LSU
SS – Sami Fagan, Missouri
OF – Amanda Lorenz, Florida
OF – Karley Wester, Notre Dame
OF – Allexis Bennett, UCLA
UTIL – Rainey Gaffin, Tennessee
UTIL – Cammi Prantl, Ohio State
AL – Tina Iosefa, Georgia
AL – Vanessa Shippy, Oklahoma State
AL – Jessica Warren, Florida State
AL – Victoria Vidales, Texas A&M
AL – Sahvanna Jaquish, LSU
AL – Kiki Stokes, Nebraska
AL – Taylor Glover, CSUN
No. 1 Florida Gators softball became just the third program in the history of the sport to win back-to-back national championships, defeating the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines 4-1 on Wednesday in Game 3 of the 2015 Women’s College World Series Championship Series in Oklahoma City.
Senior right-handed pitcher Lauren Haeger (7.0 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 5 K), the 2015 USA Softball Player of the Year, went the distance for Florida and also continued her dominance at the plate by going 1/1 with an RBI single and two intentional walks. With Wednesday’s performance a compliment to her tremendous effort throughout the event, she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
UF outscored its opponents 41-8 in the NCAA Tournament with six shutouts in 11 games, two of which went to extra innings. The path was therefore even more arduous than a year ago, when the Gators ran through the field on the way to their first national title, outscoring opponents 81-10 with eight shutouts and six run-rule victories.
Haeger went 8-1 in nine tournament starts, losing by a 1-0 decision in a game void of run support. She tossed 65.0 total innings in the event, registering 44 strikeouts and giving up 36 hits (11 of which came a nine-inning game) while only walking nine batters and allowing six earned runs. Haeger was simultaneously Florida’s best bet at the plate, hitting .433 with four homers, 11 RBI, seven runs, eight walks and a stolen base.
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Lauren Haeger, Florida (32-2, 1.23 ERA, 214 K)
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Cheridan Hawkins, Oregon
P – Miranda Kramer, Western Kentucky
P – Shelby Turnier, UCF
C – Lexie Elkins, Lousiana-Lafayette
1B – Lauren Chamberlain, Oklahoma
2B – Emily Carosone, Auburn
3B – Kasey Cooper, Auburn
SS – Bianka Bell, LSU
OF – Haylie McCleney, Alabama
OF – Allexis Bennett, UCLA
OF – Kelly Christner, Michigan
UTIL – Lauren Haeger, Florida
UTIL – Amber Freeman, Arizona State
AL – Sierra Romero, Michigan
AL – Kelsey Stewart, Florida
AL – Ally Carda, UCLA
AL – Shelby Pendley, Oklahoma
AL – Alaynie Page, South Carolina
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Paige Parker, Oklahoma
P – Megan Good, James Madison
P – Alexis Osorio, Alabama
C – Ivie Drake, Georgia State
1B – Kayla Bonstrom, Stanford
2B – Alex Hugo, Georgia
3B – Jenna Lilley, Oregon
SS – Delaney Spaulding, UCLA
OF – Bailey Landry, LSU
OF – Cheyenne Cordes, California
OF – Janie Takeda, Oregon
UTIL – Sara Groenewegen, Minnesota
UTIL – Sahvanna Jaquish, LSU
AL – Megan Betsa, Michigan
AL – Rainey Gaffin, Tennessee
AL – Shellie Landry, Lousiana-Lafayette
AL – Chelsea Goodacre, Arizona
AL – Stephany LaRosa, UCLA
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Carly Hoover, LSU
P – Lacey Waldrop, Florida State
P – Allie Walljasper, LSU
C – Erika Piancastelli, McNeese State
1B – Shelby Friudenberg, Baylor
2B – Demi Turner, Alabama
3B – Marisa Runyon, Alabama
SS – Kellie Fox, Arizona
OF – Tiffany Howard, Auburn
OF – Sierra Lawrence, Michigan
OF – Katiyana Mauga, Arizona
UTIL – Cortni Emanuel, Georgia
UTIL – Jailyn Ford, James Madison
AL – Emilee Koerner, Notre Dame
AL – Haylie Wagner, Michigan
AL – Kristen Brown, North Carolina
AL – Missy Taukeiaho, Cal State Fullerton
AL – Aleshia Ocasio, Florida
AL – Kiki Stokes, Nebraska
The most statistically dominant team throughout the NCAA tournament, Florida beat Alabama 6-3 to sweep the final series and win the first national championship in program history. At times the best team in the country during the regular season and at times a far cry from it, Florida didn’t even need to be at its best Tuesday night to complete a postseason run that proved it deserved to dance with the trophy.
It clinched the championship with Hannah Rogers, who was named the World Series most outstanding player and who throughout the tournament put together one of the most impressive sustained postseason pitching performances of any championship ace in the past decade, watching from the dugout until the sixth inning.
The Gators won despite four errors in the first four innings, 10 percent of the total errors their otherwise brilliant defense committed in 67 games this season.
They got arguably the biggest out of their season, with two outs and the bases loaded with Crimson Tide in a game the Gators led by three runs in the fourth inning, on a pitch thrown by freshman Delanie Gourley, who was five batters into her first appearance in a game since the less stomach-churning surroundings of an NCAA tournament regional at home against Florida A&M.
Auburn 1 North Dakota State 0 – North Dakota State eliminated
Auburn 4 Minnesota 3
Minnesota 8 Auburn 6 – Auburn eliminated
Minnesota qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-1.
Tempe Regional
Arizona State 8 Dartmouth 0 (5 inn.)
Michigan 8 San Diego State 7 (9 inn.)
San Diego State 8 Dartmouth 0 (6 inn.) – Dartmouth eliminated
Arizona State 4 Alabama 1
Michigan 9 San Diego State 1 (6 inn.) – San Diego State
Michigan 4 Arizona State 3
Michigan 5 Arizona State 4 – Arizona State eliminated
Michigan qualifies for the Super Regional, 4-1.
Tallahassee Regional
South Florida 6, South Carolina 0
Florida State 6, Fordham 1
South Carolina 5, Fordham 4 – Fordham eliminated
Florida State 2, South Florida 0
South Florida 3, South Carolina 2 – South Carolina eliminated
Florida State 2, South Florida 1 – South Florida eliminated
Florida State qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
Gainesville Regional
Stetson 6, Central Florida 4
Florida 8, Florida A&M 0
Florida 16, Stetson 0
Central Florida 2, Florida A&M 1 – Florida A&M eliminated
Central Florida 6, Stetson 4 – Stetson eliminated
Florida 7, Central Florida 0 – Central Florida eliminated
Florida qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
Seattle Regional
BYU 7, Northwestern 2
Washington 8, Iona 0
Washington 9, BYU 0
Northwestern 14, Iona 4 – Iona eliminated
Northwestern 8, BYU 3 – BYU eliminated
Washington 9, Northwestern 0 – Northwestern eliminated
Washington qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
Waco Regional
Tulsa 2, Houston 1
Baylor 6, Northwestern State 1
Baylor 2, Tulsa 1
Houston 7, Northwestern State 6 – Northwestern State eliminated
Tulsa 10, Houston 6 – Houston eliminated
Tulsa 1, Baylor 0
Baylor 3, Tulsa 1 – Tulsa eliminated
Baylor qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-1.
Athens Regional
North Carolina State 4, UAB 0
Georgia 9, Chattanooga 0
North Carolina State 5, Georgia 4
UAB 9, Chattanooga 2
Georgia 3, UAB 0
Georgia 9, NC State 1
Georgia 8, NC State 0
Georgia qualifies for the Super Regional, 4-1.
Los Angeles Regional
Notre Dame 8, Long Beach State 0
UCLA 8, Southern Utah 0
UCLA 7, Notre Dame 0
Long Beach State 9, Southern Utah 6
Notre Dame 10, Long Beach State 1
UCLA 1, Notre Dame 0
UCLA qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
Lexington Regional
James Madison 6, DePaul 1
Kentucky 2, Ohio 0
Kentucky 2, James Madison 1
DePaul 5, Ohio 1
DePaul 4, James Madison 3
DePaul 2, Kentucky 1
Kentucky 1, DePaul 0
Kentucky qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-1.
Tucson Regional
LSU 13, Louisville 9
Arizona 9, Boston U. 6
Arizona 9 vs. LSU 8
Boston U. 8, Louisville 3
LSU 8, Boston U. 3
LSU 5, Arizona 1
Arizona 13, LSU 5
Arizona qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-1.
Lafayette Regional
Texas 1, Mississippi St. 0
Louisiana-Lafayette 7, Texas Southern 4
Louisiana-Lafayette 3, Texas 2
Mississippi State 5, Texas Southern 3
Texas 4, Mississippi St. 3
Louisiana-Lafayette 10, Texas 1
Louisiana-Lafayette qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
Norman Regional
Texas A&M 7, Hofstra 6
Oklahoma 14, Bryant 4
Oklahoma 9, Texas A&M 8
Hofstra 10, Bryant 6
Texas A&M 7, Hofstra 0
Oklahoma 11, Texas A&M 6
Oklahoma qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
Knoxville Regional
Virginia Tech 4, Lipscomb 3
Tennessee 12, Charleston Southern 3
Tennessee 12, Virginia Tech 0
Lipscomb 4, Charleston Southern 2
Lipscomb 12, Virginia Tech 3
Tennessee 2, Lipscomb 0
Tennessee qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
Columbia Regional
Kansas 3, Nebraska 1
Missouri 6, Bradley 5
Missouri 6, Kansas 3
Nebraska 9, Bradley 0
Nebraska 2, Kansas 1
Nebraska 11, Missouri 4
Nebraska 8, Missouri 1
Nebraska qualifies for the Super Regional, 4-1.
Tuscaloosa Regional
S.C. Upstate 5, South Alabama 3
Alabama 13, SIU Edwardsville 3
Alabama 7, S.C. Upstate 1
South Alabama 5, SIU Edwardsville 1
South Alabama 5, S.C. Upstate 0
Alabama 3, South Alabama 0
Alabama qualifies for the Super Regional, 3-0.
Eugene Super Regional
Oregon 10 Minnesota 2 (6 inn.)
Oregon 6 Minnesota 1
Oregon qualifies for the WCWS, 2-0.
Tallahassee Super Regional
Michigan 17 Florida State 3 (6 inn.)
Florida State 6 Michigan 0
Florida State 4 Michigan 2
Florida State qualifies for the WCWS, 2-1.
Gainesville Super Regional
Florida 9 Washington 0 (5 inn.)
Washington 4 Florida 3
Florida 8 Washington 0 (5 inn.)
Florida qualifies for the WCWS, 2-1.
Athens Super Regional
Baylor 9 Georgia 1 (6 inn.)
Baylor 6 Georgia 3
Baylor qualifies for the WCWS, 2-0.
Los Angeles Super Regional
UCLA 6 Kentucky 4
Kentucky 7 UCLA 3
Kentucky 7 UCLA 1
Kentucky qualifies for the WCWS, 2-1.
Lafayette Super Regional
Louisiana-Lafayette 5 Arizona 3
Louisiana-Lafayette 7 Arizona 1
Louisiana-Lafayette qualifies for the WCWS, 2-0.
Norman Super Regional
Oklahoma 8 Tennessee 1
Tennessee 4 Oklahoma 0
Oklahoma 8 Tennessee 2
Oklahoma qualifies for the WCWS, 2-1.
Tuscaloosa Super Regional
Alabama 6 Nebraska 5 (12 inn.)
Alabama 2 Nebraska 1
Alabama qualifies for the WCWS, 2-0.
REGULAR SEASON INFORMATION
Honda Sports Award – Madison Shipman, Tennessee (.416, 18 HR, 54 RBI, 13 SB)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Lacy Waldrop, Florida State (38-7, 1.13 ERA, 287 K)
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Lacey Waldrop JR. FSU Seminoles
P – Cheridan Hawkins SO. Oregon Ducks
P – Jaclyn Traina SR. Alabama Crimson Tide
C – Taylor Edwards SR. Nebraska Cornhuskers
1B – Hallie Wilson JR. Arizona Wildcats
2B – Alex Hugo SO. Georgia Bulldogs
3B – Courtney Ceo SR. Oregon Ducks
SS – Sierra Romero SO. Michigan Wolverines
OF – Haylie McCleney SO. Alabama Crimson Tide
OF – Branndi Melero JR. Auburn Tigers
OF – Victoria Hayward SR. Washington Huskies
UTIL – Ally Carda JR. UCLA Bruins
UTIL – Stephany LaRosa JR. UCLA Bruins
AL – Maddie O’Brien JR. FSU Seminoles
AL – Madison Shipman SR. Tennessee Lady Vols
AL – Kelsey Stewart SO. Florida Gators
AL – Whitney Canion SR. Baylor Bears
AL – Shelby Pendley JR. Oklahoma Sooners
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Chelsea Wilkinson SO. Georgia Bulldogs
P – Dallas Escobedo SR. Arizona State Sun Devils
P – Sara Moulton SR. Minnesota Golden Gophers
P – Christina Hamilton JR. ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
C – Amber Freeman JR. Arizona State Sun Devils
1B – Micaela Arizmendi SO. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2B – Hannah Flippen FR. Utah Utes
3B – Kaitlyn Richardson JR. Minnesota Golden Gophers
SS – Jill Barrett SR. Tulsa Hurricanes
OF – Janie Takeda JR. Oregon Ducks
OF – Jennifer Gilbert SR. Ball State Cardinals
OF – Karley Wester FR. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
UTIL – Jailyn Ford SO. James Madison Dukes
UTIL – Sahvanna Jaquish FR. LSU Tigers
AL – Kirsten Verdun SR. DePaul Blue Demons
AL – Kasey Cooper FR. Auburn Tigers
AL – Annie Aldrete FR. Tennessee Lady Vols
AL – Haylie Wagner JR. Michigan Wolverines
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Sara Nevins SR. USF Bulls
P – Aimee Creger SR. Tulsa Hurricanes
P – Hannah Campbell SR. South Alabama Jaguars
C – Lexie Elkins SO. ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
1B – Melanie Fagaly SR. Washington Huskies
2B – Emily Carosone SO. Auburn Tigers
3B – Missy Taukeiaho SO. Cal State Fullerton Titans
SS – Kellie Fox JR. Arizona Wildcats
OF – Emilee Koerner JR. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
OF – Taylor Gadbois SO. Missouri Tigers
OF – Lindsey Stephens SO. Texas Longhorns
UTIL – Tatum Edwards SR. Nebraska Cornhuskers
UTIL – Kylee Lahners JR. Washington Huskies
AL – Lauren Chamberlain JR. Oklahoma Sooners
AL – Shellie Robinson JR. USC Upstate Spartans
AL – Cassie Tysarczyk JR. Texas A&M Aggies
AL – Meredith Owen SR. Stetson Hatters
2013 held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 31 – June 6.
Champion – Oklahoma Sooners (57-4) Runner Up – Tennessee Lady Vols (52-12)
Lauren Chamberlain rounded first base waiting, wondering and praying even that her long drive would be a home run and not just a foul ball.
When third-base umpire Christie Cornwell raised her right hand and signaled that it was a home run, she thrust both arms into the air and ran around the bases into a celebration at home plate.
Chamberlain’s two-run home run in the bottom of the 12th inning lifted top-seeded Oklahoma to a 5-3 win against Tennessee on Monday night in Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series finals. It was her 30th of the season, tying for the most in the nation this season.
“I really couldn’t believe it,” Chamberlain said. “It was awesome.”
The Sooners capitalized on a dropped pop-up to rally from three runs down in the 11th after Tennessee’s Madison Shipman broke a scoreless tie with a three-run home run off of national player of the year Keilani Ricketts (35-1).
Ellen Renfroe (19-5) was able to match Ricketts until the end, striking out 13 for seventh-seeded Tennessee (52-11). She threw 180 pressure-packed pitches, eight less than Ricketts.
It ended up as the longest game in the championship round since 1984, when UCLA beat Texas A&M 1-0 in 13 innings back when a single game decided the NCAA softball title.
Most Outstanding Player – Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma (35-1, 1.23 ERA, 350 K)
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Keilani Ricketts SR. Oklahoma Sooners
P – Blaire Luna SR. Texas Longhorns
P – Hannah Rogers JR. Florida Gators
C – Amber Freeman SO. Arizona State Sun Devils
1B – Lauren Chamberlain SO. Oklahoma Sooners
2B – Lauren Gibson SR. Tennessee Lady Vols
3B – Raven Chavanne SR. Tennessee Lady Vols
SS – Madison Shipman JR. Tennessee Lady Vols
OF – Janie Takeda SO. Oregon Ducks
OF – Kayla Braud SR. Alabama Crimson Tide
OF – Cassidy Bell SR. Penn State Nittany Lions
UTIL – Kaitlin Ingelsby JR. Washington Huskies
UTIL – Alexa Peterson JR. Oregon Ducks
AL – Lauren Haeger SO. Florida Gators
AL – Taylor Hoagland SR. Texas Longhorns
AL – Chelsea Thomas SR. Missouri Tigers
AL – Rachele Fico SR. LSU Tigers
AL – Jessica Moore SR. Oregon Ducks
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Olivia Galati SR. Hofstra Pride
P – Dallas Escobedo JR. Arizona State Sun Devils
P – Jolene Henderson SR. California Golden Bears
C – Megan Baltzell SO. Longwood Lancers
1B – Alicja Wolny SR. Louisville Cardinals
2B – Katie Keller JR. Louisville Cardinals
3B – Shelby Pendley SO. Oklahoma Sooners
SS – Cheyenne Coyle JR. Arizona State Sun Devils
OF – Haylie McCleney FR. Alabama Crimson Tide
OF – B.B. Bates SR. UCLA Bruins
OF – Brianna Turang SR. Oklahoma Sooners
UTIL – Tatum Edwards JR. Nebraska Cornhuskers
UTIL – Cali Lanphear FR. Texas A&M Aggies
AL – Sierra Romero FR. Michigan Wolverines
AL – Kaila Hunt JR. Alabama Crimson Tide
AL – Emilee Koerner SO. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
AL – Brianna Cherry SR. ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
AL – Hannah Campbell JR. South Alabama Jaguars
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Kaia Parnaby SR. Hawaii Rainbow Wahine
P – Aimee Creger JR. Tulsa Hurricanes
P – Lacey Waldrop SO. FSU Seminoles
C – Sarah Draheim SR. ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
1B – Geri Ann Glasco FR. Georgia Bulldogs
2B – Kaylan Howard SR. Oregon Ducks
3B – Kaitlyn Richardson SO. Minnesota Golden Gophers
SS – Taylor Thom JR. Texas Longhorns
OF – Tomeka Watson SR. Elon Phoenix
OF – Maggie Hull SR. Kansas Jayhawks
OF – A.J. Andrews SO. LSU Tigers
UTIL – Jaclyn Traina JR. Alabama Crimson Tide
UTIL – Brooke Short SR. Longwood Lancers
AL – Sara Nevins JR. USF Bulls
AL – Jennifer Gilbert JR. Ball State Cardinals
AL – Stephanie Pasquale JR. Temple Owls
AL – Ashley Lane SR. Michigan Wolverines
AL – Melissa Dumezich SR. Texas A&M Aggies
With one game left to decide the NCAA softball championship, the Crimson Tide’s season-long mantra has reached its ultimate point.
Jackie Traina and Amanda Locke each had three-run doubles and Alabama forced a decisive third game in the Women’s College World Series finals by beating Oklahoma 8-6 on Tuesday night.
The trophy will be handed out after Game 3 on Wednesday night.
“It’s the perfect time to finish it right now,” Traina said. “Tomorrow’s going to be the day.”
Traina laced a double to the warning track in left-center field with two outs in the second inning, putting the second-seeded Crimson Tide up 4-1. They wouldn’t trail again.
Kaila Hunt added a sacrifice before Locke’s bases-clearing double in the fourth for the Crimson Tide (59-8), who are trying to become the first Southeastern Conference team to win the NCAA
softball title.
“Everybody was locked in and ready to go. I couldn’t be more proud of a team,” said Patrick Murphy, who briefly left to coach LSU for a few days last June before having second thoughts and
returning to Alabama.
“This is what we’ve been working for — me for 16 years but these guys for four years. I’m just excited. I wish we could play right now.”
Alabama and Tennessee each have 12 World Series wins, the most for any team that hasn’t won the championship.
Alabama beat Oklahoma 5-4 in Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series’ championship series, claiming the national title in a game defined by delays.
Scheduled for a 7 p.m. start, the first pitch wasn’t thrown until nearly 10.
“It was a weird day,” said OU coach Patty Gasso. “It’s the biggest game of my life, their lives, and we’re sitting in a locker room for three hours trying to figure out what to do to stay loose.”
The Sooners appeared just fine after the game got started, though. Keilani Ricketts was perfect in the circle the first two innings, striking out five of the first six hitters she faced.
To open the second, Ricketts blasted a solo home run down the right-field line, and freshman Lauren Chamberlain added a two-run shot in the third inning to open a 3-0 Sooners lead.
Chamberlain would add a second home run, this time a solo shot, in the bottom of the seventh with two outs to draw the Sooners within one run.
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma (37-9, 1.08 ERA, 457 K)
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Keilani Ricketts JR. Oklahoma Sooners
P – Jolene Henderson SR. California Golden Bears
P – Ellen Renfroe SO. Tennessee Lady Vols
C – Jessica Shults SO. Oklahoma Sooners
1B – Lauren Chamberlain FR. Oklahoma Sooners
2B – Lauren Gibson JR. Tennessee Lady Vols
3B – Stephany LaRosa FR. UCLA Bruins
SS – Katelyn Boyd SR. Arizona State Sun Devils
OF – Alix Johnson SO. Arizona State Sun Devils
OF – Michelle Moultrie SR. Florida Gators
OF – Christi Orgeron SR. ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
UTIL – Valerie Arioto SR. California Golden Bears
UTIL – Camilla Carrera SR. UTEP Miners
AL – Rachele Fico JR. LSU Tigers
AL – Olivia Galati JR. Hofstra Pride
AL – Chelsea Thomas JR. Missouri Tigers
AL – Jaclyn Traina SO. Alabama Crimson Tide
AL – Delaney Willard SR. BYU Cougars
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Sara Nevins SO. USF Bulls
P – Stephanie Ricketts SR. Hawaii Rainbow Wahine
P – Hannah Rogers SO. Florida Gators
C – Amy Buntin JR. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
1B – Andrea Harrison SR. UCLA Bruins
2B – Lexy Bennett SR. Texas Longhorns
3B – Raven Chavanne JR. Tennessee Lady Vols
SS – Kaila Hunt SO. Alabama Crimson Tide
OF – Ashley Fleming SR. Missouri Tigers
OF – Jamia Reid SR. California Golden Bears
OF – Katie Schroeder SR. UCLA Bruins
UTIL – Kaitlin Ingelsby SO. Washington Huskies
UTIL – Amanda Locke SR. Alabama Crimson Tide
AL – Samantha Fischer SR. Loyola Marymount Lions
AL – Samantha Pappas JR. Oregon Ducks
AL – Kristyn Sandberg SR. Georgia Bulldogs
AL – Madison Shipman SO. Tennessee Lady Vols
AL – Kirsten Verdun SO. DePaul Blue Demons
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Erin Arevalo SR. Georgia Bulldogs
P – Jenna Caira SR. Syracuse Orange
P – Jessica Moore JR. Oregon Ducks
C – Haley Outon SO. Houston Cougars
1B – Nikki Armagost JR. Pacific Tigers
2B – Jenna Rich JR. Stanford Cardinal
3B – Marisa Bast SO. Northwestern Wildcats
SS – Nerissa Myers JR. ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
OF – Jennifer Fenton SR. Alabama Crimson Tide
OF – Tara Glover FR. Boise State Broncos
OF – Katie Smith SR. ULL Ragin’ Cajuns
UTIL – Melissa Dumezich JR. Texas A&M Aggies
UTIL – Samantha Camuso SR. UCLA Bruins
AL – Nichole Beall SR. Radford Highlanders
AL – Tori Collins SR. Louisville Cardinals
AL – Tanner Fowler SO. Louisville Cardinals
AL – Jessica Garcia SR. New Mexico Lobos
AL – Hayley Miles SO. San Diego State Aztecs
2011 held at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on June 2-7.
Champion – Arizona State Sun Devils (60-6) Runner Up – Florida Gators (56-13)
Only three times in 29 years before Tuesday night had a freshman been the winning pitcher in the deciding game of the Women’s College World Series.
UCLA’s Heather Compton accomplished the feat in 1990, and a year earlier it was UCLA’s Tiffany Boyd. The Bruins’ legendary Debbie Doom did the same in 1982.
Now, Arizona State’s Dallas Escobedo has added her name to the list.
The Sun Devil freshman didn’t lose a game at the WCWS, culminating with a 7-2 victory over Florida to finish off a 2-0 sweep of the championship series Tuesday night at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium for ASU’s second national championship in four years.
“It’s just a whole bunch of emotions right now,” said Escobedo, who allowed four hits and five walks with five strikeouts to improve to 37-3 on the season. “We worked so hard. I just came in here and had total confidence in my pitches.”
Escobedo said she was sore before the game and had to be stretched by the team trainer between each inning, but after giving up a first-inning run, she only surrendered one more hit until the Gators tacked on a meaningless run in the seventh inning.
“She’s not a freshman anymore,” coach Clint Myers said. “She is a seasoned veteran and there are no surprises. From this point on, she’s just going to grow with leaps and bounds as far as how good she can be.”
Escobedo meshed well as the central figure on a team with eight seniors, many of whom had been crucial players over the last four seasons. She blended quickly and added dominant pitching to a team that already had some of the best hitters and defenders in the country.
“Coming in here and just working hard and taking in what they had to say — they’ve been here, they know, they won a national championship,” Escobedo said. “Listening to what they had to say, and following and trusting in them made me how I am today.”
The Sun Devils’ offensive and defensive capabilities only made Escobedo stronger, and when she was handed the co-Most Outstanding Player award — which she shared with Florida’s Michelle Moultrie — she knew she owed a piece of it to the rest of the players as well.
“Those are the things she thrives on, because it gives her that sense of confidence that she can go out there and throw strikes, make them hit it, and they’re gonna make the plays (in the field),” Myers said.
“You saw a poised pitcher out there tonight. There’s a reason why it took 20 years for a freshman to lead a club to a national championship — because it’s such a rarity. It just doesn’t happen. Only a unique, special type of person can have that.”
Most Outstanding Player – Dallas Escobedo, Arizona State
Most Outstanding Player – Michelle Moultrie, Florida
Batting Leader – Annie Lockwood, Arizona State – .563
RBI Leader – Annie Lockwood, Arizona State – 8
Home Run Leader – Annie Lockwood, Arizona State – 3
Home Run Leader – Michelle Moultrie, Arizona State – 3
ERA Leader – Whitney Canion, Baylor – 1.64
Strikeout Leader – Dallas Escobedo, Arizona State – 38
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Whitney Larsen, Alabama
Holly Holl, Baylor
Whitney Canion, Baylor
Chelsea Thomas, Missouri
Cheyenne Coyle, Florida
Kelsey Bruder, Florida
Brittany Schutte, Florida
Krista Donnenwirth, Arizona State
Annie Lockwood, Arizona State
Mandy Urfer, Arizona State
SCORES
Alabama 1 California 0
Baylor 1 Oklahoma State 0 (8 inn.)
Arizona State 3 Oklahoma 1
Florida 6 Missouri 2
Alabama 3 Baylor 0
Arizona State 6 Florida 5
California 6 Oklahoma State 2 – Oklahoma State eliminated
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year – Ashley Hansen, Stanford (.495, 9 HR, 45 RBI)
ALL-AMERICAN FIRST TEAM
P – Dallas Escobedo, Arizona State
P – Jolene Henderson, California
P – Chelsea Thomas, Missouri
C – Kaylyn Castillo, Arizona State
1B – Megan Bush, Florida
2B – Lauren Gibson, Tennessee
3B – Amanda Chidester, Michigan
SS – Ashley Hansen, Stanford
OF – Kayla Braud, Alabama
OF – Brittany Lastrapes, Arizona
OF – Kelsey Bruder, Florida
UTIL – Jaclyn Traina, Alabama
UTIL – Andrea Harrison, UCLA
AL – Katelyn Boyd, Arizona State
AL – Kelsi Dunne, Alabama
AL – Adrienne Monka, Northwestern
AL – Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma
AL – Brittany Schutte, Florida
ALL-AMERICAN SECOND TEAM
P – Blaire Luna, Texas
P – Kenzie Fowler, Arizona
P – Hannah Rogers, Florida
C – Jessica Shults, Oklahoma
1B – Hoku Nohara, New Mexico State
2B – Ashley Lane, Michigan
3B – Brigette Del Ponte, Arizona
SS – Kelsi Weseman, Georgia Tech
OF – Raven Chavanne, Tennessee
OF – Ashley Fleming, Missouri
OF – Megan Wiggins, Georgia
UTIL – Melissa Dumezich, Texas A&M
UTIL – Nikia Williams, Washington
AL – Whitney Canion, Baylor
AL – Alisa Goler, Georgia
AL – Whitney Larsen, Alabama
AL – Jenn Salling, Washington
AL – Jordan Taylor, Michigan
ALL-AMERICAN THIRD TEAM
P – Jen Mineau, Fordham
P – Ellen Renfroe, Tennessee
P – Sara Plourde, UMass
C – Taylor Edwards, Nebraska
1B – Gabriele Bridges, Louisiana-Lafayette
2B – Aja Paculba, Florida
3B – Heather Johnson, Notre Dame
SS – Dani Leal, Baylor
OF – Bree Evans, Michigan
OF – Jamia Reid, California
OF – Rhea Taylor, Missouri
UTIL – Aimee Creger, Tulsa
UTIL – Dani Miller, Notre Dame
AL – Lindsey Hansen, Michigan State
AL – Brittany Mack, LSU
AL – Michelle Moultrie, Florida
AL – Christi Orgeron, Louisiana-Lafayette
AL – Danielle Zymkowitz, Illinois
