University of Washington
Minnesota
Washington Run Rules Minnesota, Advances To NCAA Super Regional
May 22, 2016 | Softball
Press Conference | Video Highlights
SEATTLE -- The No. 12-ranked University of Washington softball team exploded for 14 hits, including a pair of home runs and scored in every frame en route to a 15-7, six-inning decision over No. 19 Minnesota in the NCAA Regional championship game on Sunday afternoon (March 22) in front of 1,152 fans at Husky Softball Stadium.
For the second consecutive season, the Huskies will now travel to Alabama for postseason play, this time vying for a spot to the Women's College World Series. Washington will play the Crimson Tide, the winner of the Tuscaloosa Regional, in a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional next weekend. This will be the Huskies' 10th NCAA Super Regional appearance. Specific dates and times will be announced after the completion of all NCAA Regional contests.
Freshman catcher Morganne Flores and junior shortstop Ali Aguilar knocked out home runs in the third and fifth inning, respectively; both driving no-doubters, Flores a solo shot and Aguilar a three-run blast. Flores tallied her eighth long ball of the season to give Washington a 5-1 lead, while Aguilar recorded her Pac-12 leading 21st homer.
Aguilar headlined the Huskies' explosive offensive effort, going 4-for-5 with four runs batted in and three runs scored. Junior Casey Stangel drove in four runs in a 2-for-3 effort while sophomore Julia DePonte and Flores each went 2-for-4, recording a pair of runs batted in. Sophomore Taylor Van Zee also tallied two hits with an RBI and run scored.
The Husky offense saw three different pitchers and forced Minnesota to make four pitching changes in the game. Sara Groenewegen took the loss, ending her stellar junior season with a 31-7 record.
Freshman RHP Taran Alvelo (18-3) made her first start in the circle since late April to earn the win. The Carroll, Ohio native allowed just four hits and two earned runs while striking out three Gophers in 4.0 innings pitched. Senior LHP Hailey Bator entered the game in the fifth inning, getting two outs, allowing one hit before sophomore RHP Madi Schreyer closed out the game, tossing 1.1 innings, allowing one hit and one walk.
Trailing 12-2 in the fifth inning, the Gophers used a two-out rally to score five runs and keep their season alive for another inning. After Aguilar's three-run homer in the top of the frame, Minnesota used two hits and two errors to trim its deficit to five runs, 12-7. Two Gophers were hit-by-pitch to open the inning which prompted a Husky pitching change as Bator replaced Alvelo. After an out, Minnesota scored off a fielding error before Bator struck out the second out. A walk then loaded the bases and a double scored three runs.
Washington, however, put the game back into run-rule territory in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs on four hits and an error. DePonte and freshman Tannon Snow delievered back-to-back doubles before Braun and Aguilar hit consecutive singles to score three runs.
After two quick outs, Minnesota drew a walk in the bottom of the sixth, but a groundout to first base ended the game to give Washington its 10th NCAA Super Regional berth.
For the 25th time this season, the Huskies used their first turn at the plate to jump out to an early advantage, improving to 25-0 when leading after the first frame. Aguilar led off the contest with a double and after Souza drew a walk, Stangel delivered an RBI double for the first run of the game. In the next at-bat, Souza scored off an RBI groundout and Flores' single scored Stangel to give Washington a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota tacked on a run in the home half of the inning, taking advantage of an error and a walk, but Washington scored a run in both the second and third innings before exploding for 10 runs in the final three frames.
