Two dramatic games on Sunday night narrowed the field down to the final four teams at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Here’s a recap of the action and a look ahead to Monday’s National Semifinal matchups.
Florida Gators Finally Flex Their Muscles, Reach Semis
The Florida Gators edged out their rivals, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in a close 6-4 contest. This victory propels them into the National Semifinals for the first time since 2017.
Erickson Emerges as Offensive Hero
The Gators’ win hinged on a breakout performance by sophomore catcher Jocelyn Erickson, who transferred from Oklahoma this season. Erickson silenced her recent slump, knocking in a program-record-breaking 84th RBI for the season, including a key three-run homer in the 6th inning.
Rothrock Earns Hard-Fought Win
Freshman pitcher Keagan Rothrock shouldered the weight for Florida, going the distance for her 8th complete postseason game. Despite allowing a scare in the 6th inning when Alabama rallied for two runs, Rothrock secured the win with three strikeouts and just one walk.
Florida Faces Familiar Foe: Oklahoma Sooners
The Gators will now face a daunting task: defeating their Erickson’s former teammates and the juggernaut Oklahoma Sooners, the three-time defending national champions. The game is set for an 11AM start on Monday, with all games televised on ESPN.
Stanford Ousts UCLA, Earns Rematch with Texas
In a battle between Pac-12 foes, Stanford defeated UCLA 3-1 to secure their spot in the National Semifinals for the second consecutive year.
Canady Dominates on the Mound
Stanford’s pitching ace, NiJaree Canady, stifled the potent UCLA offense, striking out eight batters and scattering just three hits. Canady even shut down Pac-12 Player of the Year Maya Brady, who went 0-for-10 with seven strikeouts against Canady this season.
Stanford Seeks Revenge Against Texas Longhorns
Stanford will face the top-seeded Texas Longhorns in the National Semifinals. This matchup is a rematch from earlier in the WCWS, where Texas won 4-0. However, Stanford aims to even the score, needing to win both games on Monday to advance to the championship series. Their first game starts at 3:00 pm Central Time on ESPN2.
National Semifinal Schedule – Monday, June 3rd
- Game 11: Florida vs. Oklahoma (11:00 am Central on ESPN)
- Game 12: Rematch (if necessary) (1:30 pm Central on ESPN)
- Game 13: Stanford vs. Texas (6:00 pm Central on ESPN2)
- Game 14: Rematch (if necessary) (8:30 pm Central on ESPN2)
The stage is set for an exciting conclusion to the WCWS! Can Florida pull off an upset against the mighty Sooners? Will Stanford get their revenge on Texas? Stay tuned on Monday to find out!
Follow us on Twitter: @SportsHeartland