2015 NCAA Softball Tournament: Super Regionals Day 2 Wrap Up
The second day of the 2015 NCAA Softball Tournament Super Regionals saw two teams make the 2015 Women’s College World Series. There were also games in three other Super Regionals that set up the winners with a chance to also make the 2015 WCWS.
Thursday’s Super Regional recaps can be found here while a complete Super Regional schedule can be found here.
Note: Games will be added to their respective super regional as they are completed.
#13 Louisiana-Lafayette Versus #4 Auburn – Auburn Super Regional Game 1
A high scoring and wild game between Louisiana-Lafayette and Auburn saw the hosts come out on top in a 12-11 game that went to eight innings. A ground ball by Whitney Jordan that scored Haley Fagan.
Louisiana started the scoring in this offensive contest. Lexie Elkins hit a solo shot in the top of the first, which was her 32nd home run of the season. The Tigers responded in the bottom of the first beginning with Emily Carosone getting to second on a dropped fly ball. She was followed by Kasey Cooper who hit a ground rule double to tie the game at one. The Tigers later loaded the bases, but a strike out got Louisiana out of the jam.
In the top of the second, the Ragin’ Cajuns continued to put runs on the board. A single by DJ Sanders drove home Cassidy White while Sara Corbello came up two batters later to clear the bases with a double down the right field line. Louisiana led 4-1 after the top of the second.
In the bottom of the second the Tigers were able to load the bases with no outs, but Louisiana’s Jordan Wallace settled down to strike out to and induce a ground out to prevent no runs from being scored.
The Tigers got a run back in the bottom of the third after loading the bases again. Tiffany Howard walked to drive home a run, but that was all the Tigers could muster. Auburn trailed 4-2 after three innings.
The Ragin’ Cajuns really stretched their lead in the top of the fourth with another three run frame. With two outs and runners on first and second, a single by Haley Hayden scored Sanders. Up next was Shellie Landry who hit a double down the left field line into the corner to drive home two more runs and give Louisiana a 7-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers loaded the bases again and with only one out. Wallace struck out both Morgan Estell and Jade Rhodes to keep the lead at five runs.
The Ragin’ Cajuns got a solo blast from Kelsey Vincent in the top of the fifth to extend the lead to 8-2. In the bottom of the inning, Carosone hit a two run shot to make it an 8-4 deficit.
The Tigers added another in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run by Rhodes and closed the gap to 8-5 after six.
Louisiana put two more runs on the board in the top of the seventh with solo shots from Vincent and Aleah Craighton. The Tigers loaded the bases again in the bottom of the seventh while Rhodes walked to drive in a run and make it 10-6. Jenna Abbot also walked and that made it 10-7. A third consecutive walk to Howard made it 10-8, but Wallace stayed in the game for Louisiana for the next two pitches before being replaced by Christina Hamilton.
Hamilton then hit Carosone with a pitch to make it a 10-9 game and a wild pitch on ball four tied the game at 10. The inning finally ended with a pop out in foul territory as the game went into extras.
Louisiana led off the top of the eighth with a double from Hayden. Elkins was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second with one out. A ground out put runners on the corner and a ball four to Vincent allowed Hayden to score on a wild pitch and give the Ragin’ Cajuns an 11-10 lead.
In the bottom of the eleventh, the Ragin’ Cajuns once again could not hold the lead. A lead off walk was followed up by a single from Haley Fagan. Then came Estell who hit a double that scored a run and tied the game at 11.
After a strike out by Rhodes, Jordan came up and hit a ground ball to the second baseman, but the throw was late and Fagan was able to score.
The Ragin’ Cajuns allowed 16 walks as a team in this wild game while Jordan Wallace threw a total of 208 pitches.
In total, the game took over four hours to complete and the two teams will be back on the field Saturday at 12 PM Eastern Time for game two. Auburn will reach the Women’s College World Series with a win while a Louisiana-Lafayette win will force a game three also on Sunday at 3 PM Eastern Time.
#8 Tennessee Versus #9 Florida State – Knoxville Super Regional Game 2
Florida State controlled game two of the Knoxville Super Regional to set up a winner take all matchup later on Friday. The Seminoles won 6-1 over Tennessee.
Florida State started well with a two run shot by Jessica Warren in the bottom of the first. The Volunteers came back in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit in half with a single by Meghan Gregg that scored Lexi Overstreet.
The Volunteers were unable to take advantage of a two out double by Rainey Gaffin in the top of the fourth, but Florida State would extend their lead in the bottom of the inning. It started with Warren’s second home run of the game, a solo shot, to make it 3-1. Later in the inning, Victoria Daddis doubled to right center to bring home Ellie Cooper to push the score to 4-1.
After a series of changes by Tennessee defensively, including at pitcher, FSU was able to make it 5-1 on a ground ball by Victoria East. Florida State led 5-1 after four innings.
In the fifth, Tennessee had runners on the corners with two outs, but once again could not get a run across. The Seminoles added a run in the bottom of the frame with another single from Cooper that scored Warren to make it 6-1.
The Top of the sixth was once again about missed opportunity for Tennessee. They had a one out double from Cheyanne Tarango and later a walk to put runners on first and second, but could not score.
It was a similar story in the top of the seventh with runners on the corners and two outs, but once again the Florida State pitching staff shut the door.
Game three of the Knoxville Super Regional will decide which team will make the 2015 Women’s College World Series. Game three is scheduled for 7 PM Eastern Time.
#9 Florida State Versus Tennessee – Knoxville Super Regional Game 3
Tennessee became the second team to make the 2015 Women’s College World Series after a close 2-1 victory over Florida State in game three of their Super Regional.
The Seminoles had a chance to go in front in the top of the first following a walk by Morgan Klaevemann, who then stole second base. She was on third with two outs, but could not get home.
The Volunteers did take the lead in the bottom of the first. Lexi Overstreet drew a lead off walk before a single by Rainey Gaffin to shortstop to put runners on first and second with no outs. A ground out led to Overstreet being thrown out as the lead runner at third, but Griffin was driven home on a double by Megan Geer. After one inning, Tennessee led 1-0.
The Seminoles were able to put runners on first and second with one out, but again could not capitalize. The Volunteers had some chances of their own, but would not score again until the bottom of the fourth.
After a lead off walk from Cheyanne Tarango, she was pinch ran for with CJ McClain. McClain later stole third to set runners up on first and third with no outs. She scored with the next batter up following a throwing error by FSU’s Ellie Cooper. The bases were loaded following a walk to Overstreet, but the Volunteers could not push another run across after two ground outs to end the inning.
The Seminoles were able to put their first run on the board in the top of the fifth. Victoria East hit a single to right and then advanced to second on a ground out. A wild pitch allowed her to move up to third with only one out and she was able to score on a ground ball by Klaevemann. Klaevemann was also safe as Megan Geer could not throw to first in time. The Seminoles would not put up another run, but cut the deficit in half as they trailed 2-1 after four and a half innings.
The Seminoles were unable to get a runner on base in the sixth inning and only a runner on first in the seventh, as Rainey Gaffin pitched brilliantly to send Tennessee to the 2015 Women’s College World Series.
Gaffin pitched a complete game giving up only one run, five hits, and two walks while also striking out four batters.
Tennessee advanced to the Women’s College World Series for the third time in the last four seasons. It is their seventh appearance overall.
#3 Michigan Versus #14 Georgia – Ann Arbor Super Regional Game 2
The Michigan Wolverines had a tense finish to their second Super Regional game, but they were able to hang on for a 7-6 win over the Georgia Bulldogs. Kelsey Susalla went three for four with a double, two run homer, two RBI, and two walks.
After falling behind early in game 1, Georgia would not fall into the same trap. After forcing a one, two, three top of the first, the Bulldogs put runs on the board in the bottom of the inning.
Cortni Emanuel was hit by a pitch and she was followed by Alex Hugo who drove a pitch left field for a two run homer. Two batters later, Tina Iosefa hit a solo shot to give Georgia a 3-0 lead after one inning. The Bulldogs were able to get starting Michigan pitcher Megan Betsa out of the game after two thirds of an inning.
The Wolverines pulled a run back in the top of the second with a lead off home run by Susalla, her 14th homer of the year.
Michigan added more runs in the top of the third. After a fly out, Abby Ramirez hit a single and used her speed to beat the throw while Sierra Lawrence drilled a single to right field. Up next was Sierra Romero who hit a single to right field that scored Ramirez. The Wolverines tied the game at three on a line drive sacrifice fly by Kelly Christner with a nice sliding catch by Sydni Emanuel. The game was tied at three after the top of the third.
Michigan’s Haylie Wagner helped her own cause in the top of the fourth with a solo shot to center field to give the Wolverines the 4-3 lead. The Wolverines added to their lead in the fifth with a double down the left field line by Susalla that drove home Romero to make it a 5-3 game. Single by Lauren Sweet allowed Susalla to score and give the Wolverines a 6-3 lead.
Georgia clawed a run back in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a ground out by Niaja Griffin to make it 6-4, but once again Michigan was able answer in the top of the seventh. A two out single by Sweet scored Christner to make it 7-4 going into the bottom of the seventh.
Sydni Emanuel led off the inning with a single to center field. Cortni Emanuel grounded out, but moved her sister up two second while Alex Hugo struck out swinging. With two outs, Anna Swafford came up and drilled a two run shot to center field to close the gap to 7-6.
After a single by Iosefa, Michigan opted to take Haylie Wagner out of the circle and go back to Megan Betsa. Betsa was able to put a full count on Griffin and forced an infield pop out to end the game.
Michigan became the first team to make the 2015 Women’s College World Series with the victory and it will be their 11th appearance overall.
#11 Oklahoma Versus #6 Alabama – Tuscaloosa Super Regional Game 1
Oklahoma broke out of a slump in the first five innings with a five run sixth to defeat Alabama 5-2 in game one of the Super Regionals on Friday.
Alabama took control of the game early. Demi Turner led off with a double in the bottom of the first and was doubled home by Jadyn Spencer two batters later to give the Tide a 1-0 lead.
Alabama doubled their lead in the third inning with a solo shot by Haylie McCleney, who continues her superb NCAA Tournament.
The Sooners, meanwhile, were not able to get much going on offense in the first five innings. They did not have a hit in those first five innings and only three base runners during that span.
In the top of the sixth, the Sooners broke through in a big way. Callie Parsons led off with a single and then came Lauren Chamberlain who hit a two run shot to left field near the scoreboard to tie the game in the blink of an eye. The Sooners were not done in the inning though.
After the home run, Shelby Pendley walked and Erin Miller was able to hit a bunt single to put runners on first and second with no outs. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners up and Paige Parker hit a sacrifice fly to drive home Pendley and give the Sooners the lead at 3-2. Up next was Kady Self who cleared the bases with two run shot down the left field to make it 5-2 game.
The bottom of the seventh was hardly a walk in the park for the Sooners. Danielle Richard started the frame with a single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Following a strike out and ground out, Richard was on third before McCleney was walked and Spencer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Marisa Runyon came up with the bases loaded, but a change up by Paige Parker got her to strike out to end the game.
Parker went the entire game for Oklahoma giving up two runs, five hits, three walks, and striking out six.
Game two of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional will be on Saturday at 5 PM Eastern Time. A win by Alabama will force a game three to be played on Saturday as well with an expected start time of 8 PM Eastern Time if that game is needed.
North Carolina State Versus #2 Oregon – Eugene Super Regional Game 1
Another strong effort from Cheridan Hawkins propelled the Oregon Ducks to a 6-1 win over North Carolina State in the opening game of the Eugene Super Regionals.
North Carolina State took the lead on the second pitch of the game thanks to a solo shot by Renada Davis, but could not add to the lead.
Oregon’s Geri Ann Glasco drew a walk with two outs and then advanced to second on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second. She could not advance any farther as Koral Costa lined out to end the inning.
The Wolfpack started the top of the third with a lead off single from Hannah Yeager and she was able to advance on a ground out by the next batter. Davis was walked intentionally to put runners on first and second, but back-to-back strike outs by Cheridan Hawkins left them stranded.
In the bottom of the third, Oregon’s Danica Mercado led off with a single and was able to advance to second on a poor throw from the third baseman. A ground out moved her up to third with one out, but she was not able to score after a strike out and ground out from her teammates to end the inning.
The top of the fourth saw North Carolina State put runners on first and second with the runners eventually ending up on the corners. However, just like in the third inning, a strike out from Hawkins ended the rally and the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Wolfpack.
In the bottom of the fourth, Oregon was able to load the bases with no outs through a walk to Jenna Lilley, a single to center by Hailey Decker, and a single by Janelle Lindvall. Emily Weiman was nearly able to pitch around the jam by forcing back-to-back infield pop outs, but she hit Mercado in the hip with a pitch to force a run home that tied the game at one apiece.
The Ducks were able to continue the scoring with a ground ball to NC State’s shortstop, Renada Davis, but her throw from her knees was not handled by the first baseman, as both Lindvall and Decker scored. Nikki Udria then singled to right field to drive home another run to make it a 4-1 game after four innings.
In the top of the fifth, Hawkins struck out the side for the second time in the game (first inning after the home run was the first occurrence) to keep Oregon in control after the big fourth inning from the offense.
The Ducks continued their offensive explosion in the bottom of the fifth. Decker hit a one out single to third while Lindvall singled to center field as the next better. Glasco then came up and double to left center to drive home Decker to put the Ducks up 5-1. That hit led to Emily Weiman being replaced in the circle by Courtney Mirabella.
Mirabella started with a walk to Costa to load the bases and only one out on the board. Mercado hit a sacrifice fly to left field though the ball was inexplicably cut off at third and the lead went up to 6-1. A walk to Alyssa Gillespie loaded the bases again, but a strike out ended the threat with only two runs given up.
In the bottom of the sixth, Oregon had runners on first and second following back-to-back walks, but the Wolfpack were able to get out of the inning without surrendering any more runs.
Hawkins went the whole way giving up just one run, two hits, three walks, and striking out 14 batters.
Oregon and North Carolina State will meet again on Saturday for game two at 3 PM Eastern Time. If North Carolina State wins, another game will be played on Saturday at 6 PM Eastern Time.