GAMEDAY: Follow The Huskies At The 2010 WCWS
June 5, 2010
Washington vs. Arizona, 1:30 p.m. CDT, Sat., June 5, ESPN2
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• Recap, Box, Quotes & Notes From UW-Georgia Game
• Complete Postseason Media Guide in PDF Format 
• Send The Huskies Your Best Wishes!
• Updated WCWS bracket
LATEST NEWS:
• Lawrie Named USA Softball National Player of the Year
• Lawrie, Salling, Williams Named First-Team All-America
• Lawrie Named A Finalist For Honda Award
• Five Huskies Listed On Academic All-Pac-10 Team
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 4:55 p.m. CDT: In the top of the seventh, Arizona got a couple of runners on via an error and infield single. Arredondo came through with her second RBI of the game, singling through the right side to drive in a runner, increasing the Wildcats lead to 4-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, Taylor Smith led off and got new life, twice! She popped out, but an illegal pitch was called, and then popped out again in foul territory, but the catcher dropped the ball. Then, she tripled to center to bring the tying run to the plate. After an out, Salling flied to center to bring in the run, cutting the lead to 4-3.
That's it however, as the Huskies' season comes to an end on a flyout to left.
We'll have more here later, but for now, the final score: Arizona 4, Washington 3.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 4:25 p.m. CDT: A couple of walks in the sixth, on either side of a long flyout from Wright, puts runners at first and second. Then Hooch Fagaly flys out to deep right in foul territory. But then it all turns crazy. RF Karissa Buchanan's throw to second gets past the bag, but left fielder Brittany Lastrapes has it backed up well and looks like she'll throw Lawrie out at the plate easily. However, her throw is high and Lawrie scores. A strikeout ends the inning, but we'll go to the seventh with the Huskies trailing, 3-2.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 4:15 p.m. CDT: Plenty of controversy here at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium as the Huskies end their half of the fifth in an argument with the umpires after Jenn Salling was called out for being off the base at third with the ball in the circle. The ESPN announcers, for what it's worth, didn't think much of the call and the umpires did indeed meet to discuss the call, but it ended up standing.
The Wildcats were retired in order in the top of the sixth, so the Dawgs will open the bottom of the sixth with Lawrie, Wright and Williams due up. 3-1 Arizona in the middle of the sixth.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 3:50 p.m. CDT: Arizona took advantage of another Husky error in the top of the fifth. With two outs and one on, an error by the Husky second baseman kept the inning alive. K'Lee Arredondo then followed by lining a single to left, driving in a runner from second base. The deficit is back to two runs as the 'Cats lead 3-1. Two of the three Arizona runs are unearned.
Dawgs need to rally ... headed to the bottom of the fifth down a pair. Smith, Fleischman and Salling due up.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 3:30 p.m. CDT: Another illegal pitch benefits the Huskies, this one in a bigger way. With pinch runner Maggie Wagner at first, Wright hit a fly ball to right. Wagner, who was running on the pitch to steal, was easily doubled up at first base, but an illegal pitch had been called, nullifying the entire play and putting Wagner at second. Wright struck out, but Niki Williams singled to drive in Wagner with the Huskies' first run.
After four full innings, Arizona leads, 2-1.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 3:05 p.m. CDT: Washington took advantage of Fowler's fourth illegal pitch of the game in the third. After Amanda Fleischman had seemingly grounded to short, the pitch was called illegal, giving her new life. She then sliced the next pitch just past the diving Wildcats shortstop for a hit.
After moving to second on a bunt, Fleishman was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a single from Kimi Pohlman. It was a close play and the Husky coaching staff had plenty to say about it afterwards with the umpires.
After three complete, it's still 2-0 Wildcats.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 2:50 p.m. CDT: In the bottom of the second, the Huskies got a runner to second base thanks to a single from Niki Williams and an illegal pitch. The illegal pitch, if you've been watching, has become the biggest controversy of the WCWS. Arizona's Kenzie Fowler was one of the pitchers who has been most victimized by the IP call in the first game and she's had a couple already today vs. the Huskies (and 11 in this year's WCWS through the second inning today). We'll see if it plays into the final score.
For what it's worth, the ESPN announcers just explained that Lawrie doesn't tend to be susceptible to the illegal pitch simply do to her pitching style.
In the top of the third inning, Lawrie struck out the first two in order, but then gave up three straight singles -- an infield single to short, then a blooper that fell in shallow right, and then a bouncer to third, leading to the first run of the game. The following batter reached on an error, allowing a second run to score.
The score after two and a half innings: 2-0 Arizona.
One note on the first inning: Husky catcher Shawna Wright became the first player in this year's World Series to throw out a would-be base stealer. Runners were 9-for-9 in the WCWS prior to Wright's throw.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 2:18 p.m. CDT: In the top of the first, Arizona got one aboard on a one-out walk, but she was erased at second, caught stealing, and Lawrie struck out the other two Arizona batters. In the bottom of the first, the Huskies went in order with two strikeouts and a flyout.
Lawrie at the top of her game in the second as she strikes out the side in order. Earlier this year, in a three-game sweep of the Wildcats, she notched 39 strikeouts over 21 innings in the three games. Over the last two seasons, she has struck out 64 UA batters in 35 innings.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 1:35 p.m. CDT: First pitch for the Huskies vs. Arizona is 1:42 p.m. CT/11:42 a.m. PT. Here are the lineups:
Arizona (visitor): Lastrapes, LF; Schultzer, CF; Arredondo, SS; Chambers, C; Del Ponte, 3B; Koria, DP; Arriola, 2B; Kirker, 1B; Buchanan, RF; Fowler, P.
Washington (home): Salling, SS; Pohlman, RF; Lawrie, P; Wright, C; Williams, LF; Fagaly, 1B; Stuart, 3B; Smith, DP; Fleischman, 2B; McWherter, CF.
In the early game, Florida beat Missouri, 5-0, sending the Tigers home while the Gators will take on Georgia later today. Here's the box score from the Florida-Mizzou game.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 12:35 p.m. CDT: The Huskies are out on the practice field prepping for the their game vs. Arizona in about an hour. Here's a photo gallery of their pre-game warmup.
As we write this, Florida leads Missouri 2-0 in the top of the fifth. Florida is the home teams, so there's a chance that the Husky game will get underway on time, but frankly, it's likely to be a touch late.
It's about 93 degrees and sunny here in OKC ... many of the fans are frequenting the "mist" areas, where sprayers shoot a find mist of cool water overhead. And, the lines for the water fountains to refill bottles is at least 10 deep at any given time.
Saturday, June 5, 2010, 10:20 a.m. CDT: At ASA Hall of Fame Stadium now, though the Husky players and coaches won't arrive for some time. The fans were just let in at the top of the hour and Missouri and Florida are preparing for their game, which begins at 11:00 a.m. CT.
One note of correction/clarification (and not getting ahead or ourselves): if the Huskies beat Arizona today, they'd move on to face Hawai'i tonight as the losing teams from last night's games (Hawai'i and Georgia) switched sides of the bracket. So, Georgia will play the winner of Missouri-Florida at 6 p.m. CT/4 p.m. PT; while the winner of the UW-UA game will face Hawai'i at 8:30 p.m. CT/6:30 p.m. PT.
More to come later!
Saturday, June, 5, 2010, 9:00 a.m. CDT: Gameday is finally here again. After a day off, it's time for the Dawgs to get back to work at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time vs. Arizona. Remember to see the top of this page for all the online coverage links.
Last night, Tennessee beat Georgia, 7-5, as the Bulldogs scored three in the bottom of the seventh to close the gap. Here's the box score from that one.
Have a look at the Seattle Times today, as Jerry Brewer has two large stories on UW softball: here and here.
We'll have more from ASA Hall of Fame Stadium later.
Friday, June 4, 2010, 9:05 p.m. CDT: The first of two Friday games at the 2010 Women's College World Series has gone final as UCLA beat Hawai'i, 5-2. The Bruins now has Saturday off and awaits whoever comes out of their side of the bracket while Hawai'i will play tomorrow against the winner of the Florida-Missouri game, the winner of which will face UCLA on Sunday, needing two win twice.
The Huskies are in the hotel, no doubt keeping an eye on tonight's Tennessee-Georgia game. It's the same scenario for those two teams as the winner will follow the same course as UCLA and the loser will face the winner of tomorrow's UW-Arizona game.
Here's the box score from the UCLA-Hawai'i game.
Friday, June 4, 2010, 4:00 p.m. CDT: Time to start up a new "Follow the Huskies at the WCWS." To catch up on entries from Wednesday and Thursday, click on this link.
The team didn't get back to the hotel until about 1:00 a.m. Central Time last night. So, after getting some rest, the Huskies were back at it again this morning. After lunch, the team headed to Independence Park, a nearby city field, for about an hour's worth of batting practice. As there's no official practice time at ASA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, this was arranged by the team on its own.
Check out this photo gallery from today's practice.
Temperatures were in the low to mid-90s and the session lasted roughly an hour and a half. Back to the hotel afterwards and then the team will head to dinner this early evening.
Two games are on tap in the Women's College World Series Friday as winners' bracket games feature UCLA vs. Hawai'i and Tennessee vs. Georgia.
Washington's next game is Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Central Time/11:30 a.m. Pacific. See the top of this page for links to online coverage. You can watch on ESPN2 or listen on KKNW AM-1150.
Missouri plays Florida Saturday, prior to the Husky game. If Washington beats Arizona, the Huskies would advance to play the loser of today's Tennessee-Georgia game. That elimination game is scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Central/6:30 p.m. Pacific and will be shown on ESPN.
