Gator Softball Goes To College World Series!

Fighting not only Washington but two long rain delays, the Florida softball team survives both, run ruling the Huskies 8-0 Sunday in the third and deciding game of the Super Regional.   The win sends Florida to the College World Series in Oklahoma City starting Thursday.

The Gators lost to Washington earlier in the day Sunday setting up a winner take all game but Mother Nature had her say in the outcome.   After Florida scored an early run, the game was delayed by lightning and rain and then resumed.   In the fourth inning, Kelsey Stewart hit a three run homer to put Florida up 4-0 but again the game was delayed by weather.

Washington coach Heather Tarr also protested the game, but to no avail.   When the game resumed again, the Gators won it on a three run homer by Kirsti Merritt in the bottom of the fifth inning.   Overshadowed a bit was the pitching of Hannah Rogers, who weathered all the delays and tossed a one hitter.

Florida will face Baylor in its first game in the College World Series.  The others who qualified are SEC members Alabama and Kentucky, FSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Louisiana-Lafayette.

This will be Florida’s sixth appearance in the College World Series.