It was again the bottom of the order that did the damage for Florida State softball as the Seminoles won a third straight Women’s College World Series elimination game. Elizabeth Mason’s 3-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning was the difference on Sunday afternoon in Oklahoma City in a 3-1 victory.
The Seminoles had numerous opportunities throughout the day, but couldn’t cash in off UCLA pitcher Rachel Garcia. FSU’s biggest missed opportunity may have come in the fourth inning after it put runners on second and third base with no outs before Garcia settled in and struck out the side.
UCLA center fielder Bubba Nickles looked to rob both FSU’s Dani Morgan and Jessie Warren of home runs in the sixth, but could not catch Mason’s blast. Prior to Mason’s swing, Florida State was 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
The lone run for the Bruins was of the unearned variety in the third inning. Kylee Perez started the inning with an infield single and advanced to third on an errant throw by Warren, the FSU third baseman, on a bunt by Briana Perez. Garcia, the UCLA pitcher, would single her home.
The Bruins threatened in the seventh, putting two on base for All-American Aaliyah Jordan. FSU’s Meghan King got Jordan to pop out to end the game.
King went the distance for the No. 6 nationally-seeded Seminoles (56-12). King struck out 10 Bruins in the win and yielded seven hits and an unearned run to get the win. Garcia took the loss for UCLA (58-6).
FSU and the third-seeded Bruins will play a winner-take-all on Sunday night for a spot against Washington in the best-of-three Women’s College World Series final. The No. 5 national seed Huskies clinched a spot with a win over Oklahoma earlier in the day. FSU has never advanced to the final series.
Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson
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