Plain, Alvelo Combine For One-Hitter In 6-0 Win

Sunday, February 10

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

1:00 PM

University of Washington

3-1

Liberty

1-4

Washington

Liberty

February 10, 2019 | Softball

Box Score Box Score

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – A dominant performance in the circle helped the #2 Washington Huskies take down the Liberty Flames 6-0 on Sunday. Washington used a five-run fourth inning to build a comfortable lead, with Gabbie Plain and Taran Alvelo keeping Liberty from generating any offense.

Washington's duo of Plain and Alvelo did not allow a hit until two outs in the sixth inning. That hit, Liberty's only one in the game, was a bloop double, falling just in front of Kaija Gibson in center and just beyond the reach of Washington's retreating infielders.

A big fourth inning buoyed the Dawgs, as they expanded their lead to 6-0. Six straight batters reached in that inning, chasing two pitchers from the game. Gibson, Milloy, Bates, and Flores would all drive runs in that inning.

Alvelo entered in the fourth, fighting through a strange sequence that included five illegal pitches in two batters. The inning would end on a flyout to Gibson as the runner on first was unable to get back in time and was doubled off on a good throw from right. Liberty would not threaten again in the game, with the 6-0 score holding for a Husky victory.

		SCORING
Third Inning: Vandegrift found herself on third thanks to heady baserunning, stealing second and then taking third on a throwing error. Bates lined a soft single to short left to bring her home. Fourth Inning: Gibson bounced a ball up the middle to make it 2-0, scoring Atlee from second. Milloy and Bates would each bounce singles up the middle past the infielders to bring in three more runs, with Flores ending the big inning with a sac fly to make it 6-0.

		NOTES
Bates (2x4, 3 RBI) has hits in every game this year, including multiple hits in three of four games. Bates' three RBI are her most since also driving in three on March 2 of last year against Alabama. Vandegrift (1x2, 2 R) is the third Husky to start at third base in this early season. Hee (0x2, BB) extended her streak of consecutive plate appearances on base to four before flying out in the fourth. This is the third time in four games that a Washington pitcher has thrown over three innings and allowed only one hit.

Washington will remain in Mexico for four more games next weekend, beginning with games against Mississippi State and Arkansas on Thursday, February 14.

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