Sunday, May 20
Seattle, WA
4:00 PM
University of Washington
5
vs
2
Minnesota
Photo by: Red Box Pictures
Huskies Advance To Super Regionals With 5-2 Victory
May 20, 2018 | Softball
SEATTLE – The #5 Washington Huskies advanced to Super Regionals for the third consecutive year with a 5-2 win over Minnesota, closing out an undefeated Seattle Regional. A three-run fifth put the Huskies on top for good, while three-hit days from Taylor Van Zee and Sis Bates helping Washington take the win. Washington will enter Supers at 47-8 on the year.
Taran Alvelo and Gabbie Plain combined to shut down Minnesota and get the win. Alvelo threw three innings to start the game, allowing one earned run, before Plain came to the circle for four scoreless innings of relief. Plain would strike out six and allow just three hits to earn her 19th win and third of the weekend.
Alvelo worked around a bases-loaded jam in the first before finding her groove, striking out two in the second. The junior left the game after a leadoff double in the fourth.
After Minnesota scored on an error in the second, Washington answered with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the third. Kelly Burdick moved to third base after a single to right by Van Zee and a bunt single that died in the left batter's box by Bates. Julia DePonte took no time to get the game tied back up, lofting the first pitch she saw into right to allow Burdick to score.
After Minnesota scored again, the Huskies blew the game open with a three-run fifth, taking their first lead of the game and never looking back. Van Zee tied it back up with a single into center after falling behind 0-2, allowing Trysten Melhart to score. After that, a double by DePonte just inside the third base bag scored Van Zee to make it 3-2.
Bates would add another run in the inning. Kirstyn Thomas hit a high hopper to the pitcher and, as soon as the pitcher turned toward first, Bates broke hard from third, sliding in head-first to widen the lead.
Plain answered the big offense inning from Washington by striking out the side in the fifth, then adding two more strikeouts in the sixth to flatten Minnesota's offense. Washington added an insurance run on a wild pitch in the sixth before Plain threw a scoreless seventh for the win.
Notes
Make sure to follow Husky softball on Twitter with the username @UWSoftball and on Instagram at uwsoftball.
Taran Alvelo and Gabbie Plain combined to shut down Minnesota and get the win. Alvelo threw three innings to start the game, allowing one earned run, before Plain came to the circle for four scoreless innings of relief. Plain would strike out six and allow just three hits to earn her 19th win and third of the weekend.
Alvelo worked around a bases-loaded jam in the first before finding her groove, striking out two in the second. The junior left the game after a leadoff double in the fourth.
After Minnesota scored on an error in the second, Washington answered with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the third. Kelly Burdick moved to third base after a single to right by Van Zee and a bunt single that died in the left batter's box by Bates. Julia DePonte took no time to get the game tied back up, lofting the first pitch she saw into right to allow Burdick to score.
After Minnesota scored again, the Huskies blew the game open with a three-run fifth, taking their first lead of the game and never looking back. Van Zee tied it back up with a single into center after falling behind 0-2, allowing Trysten Melhart to score. After that, a double by DePonte just inside the third base bag scored Van Zee to make it 3-2.
Bates would add another run in the inning. Kirstyn Thomas hit a high hopper to the pitcher and, as soon as the pitcher turned toward first, Bates broke hard from third, sliding in head-first to widen the lead.
Plain answered the big offense inning from Washington by striking out the side in the fifth, then adding two more strikeouts in the sixth to flatten Minnesota's offense. Washington added an insurance run on a wild pitch in the sixth before Plain threw a scoreless seventh for the win.
Notes
- Washington has advanced to Super Regionals eight times in the last nine years.
- DePonte (1x3, 2B, 2 RBI) now has her first 50 RBI season.
- This is the fourth year in a row Washington has had multiple players with 50+ RBI.
- Bates (3x3, R, SB) has 20 multi-hit games on the season, a career-high.
- In her last six appearances, Plain (4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 6 K) has a 0.21 ERA and 37 strikeouts.
- Plain has not allowed a single earned run in six relief appearances this season.
- Alvelo (3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) has 221 strikeouts this year, the most by a Husky since Danielle Lawrie in 2010.
- Van Zee (3x4, R, RBI) is now ninth in UW history with 171 RBI, passing Nikia Williams.
Make sure to follow Husky softball on Twitter with the username @UWSoftball and on Instagram at uwsoftball.
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballWashington Softball Lubbock Regional Game 3 Postgame Press Conference
Tuesday, May 20
Washington Softball Lubbock Regional Game 1 Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, May 18
Washington 13, Brown 5 | Huskies Highlights
Sunday, May 18
Washington Softball Head Coaches Joint Press Conference: NCAA Softball Championships
Sunday, May 18
