Huskies Return to Women's College World Series With Pair Of Wins

Friday, May 28

Seattle, Wash.

5:30 PM

University of Washington

1-0

Oklahoma

0-1

Washington

Oklahoma

Huskies Return to Women's College World Series With Pair Of Wins

May 28, 2010 | Softball

Box Score

By: Washington Athletics

May 28, 2010

Game 2 Box Score | Game 3 Box Score | Quotes

SEATTLE - The top-ranked Washington softball team earned a chance to defend its NCAA championship Friday as the Huskies won a pair of games vs. Oklahoma Friday at Husky Softball Stadium to earn a berth in the Women's College World Series next week in Oklahoma City.

Washington, ranked No. 1 in the nation and seeded third in the tournament, won 3-0 in game two of the best-of-three NCAA Super Regionals and then wrapped up the Series berth with a 4-0 victory in the nightcap thanks in large part to a three-run homer from freshman Shawna Wright in the first inning.

On Thursday, the Huskies (50-7) suffered their first-ever home loss in NCAA play, falling 6-1 to Oklahoma, which is ranked No. 11 and seeded 14th.

Husky ace Danielle Lawrie (40-3) picked up both wins Friday to notch the second 40-win season in UW history. Last season, she won 42. She also moved into a tie for sixth in NCAA history with 136 career victories. In the nightcap, she pitched her second shutout of the day, striking out 17 in her seven innings of work.

The Huskies opened up the decisive contest in style. In the bottom of the first, with runners aboard on an error and a single, freshman catcher Shawna Wright smashed her 12th home run of the season deep to left-center field, staking the home team with a 3-0 lead.

Washington had a chance to add to its lead in the fourth when pinch runner Maggie Wagner tried to score from third on a grounder to short, but she was thrown out at the plate.

In the top of the fifth, Oklahoma (47-12) mounted its first major threat of the game as a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. However, Lawrie got Jessica Shults on a called third strike on a full-count pitch and then Lindsey Vandever flied out to deep right to keep the score at 3-0.

In the fifth, Washington added to its lead when Wright, aboard on a fielder's choice at first, stole second and then came in to score on a single from Niki Williams.

The Women's College World Series gets underway next Thursday at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

NCAA Super Regional Game Two Recap
A night after one of the rougher outings of her college career, Husky All-American Danielle Lawrie was back to her usual dominant self Friday night, leading the No. 1-ranked and third-seeded Washington softball team to a 3-0 win over 11th-ranked and No. 14 seed Oklahoma. The win forced a third and deciding game in the NCAA Super Regional later Friday night at Husky Softball Stadium.

Lawrie (39-3), who surrendered five homers in Thursday's 6-1 loss to the Sooners, threw a two-hit shutout in Friday's second game of the best-of-three series. She struck out 10 while giving up only a pair of singles in her seven innings in the circle while also going 1-for-3 at the plate.

Washington improved to 49-7 on the season while the Sooners saw a 15-game winning streak snapped to fall to 47-11.

The two teams will play game three of the NCAA Super Regional series later Friday night, with the winner advancing to the Women's College World Series. The game is airing live on ESPN2 and also on KKNW AM-1150 radio.

Washington used a pair of extra-base hits in the second inning to grab the game's first lead. Niki Williams led off the inning by lining a pitch to right that got past diving OU right fielder Haley Nix and out to the wall for a triple. After an out, Taylor Smith laced a double into the gap in left-center field, plating Williams to give the Huskies a 1-0 edge.

Meanwhile, Lawrie held the Sooners hitless until Jessica Shults reached on a two-out single in the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, the Huskies loaded the bases on singles from Kimi Pohlman, Lawrie and Shawna Wright. After a popout, UW first baseman Hooch Fagaly drew a walk on a full-count pitch, forcing in a run. Taylor Smith then bounced into a force at second base to drive in pinch runner Maggie Wagner, stretching the Husky advantage to 3-0.

Sooners freshman starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts (32-9) was saddled with the loss. In her six innings, she gave up three runs on six hits, walking one and striking out five.