OKLAHOMA CITY — Jocelyn Erickson got here up heavy and earned a shot at her former group.
Erickson homered and knocked in 4 runs and Negative. 4 seed Florida beat Negative. 14 Alabama 6-4 on Sunday evening to move to the Ladies’s Faculty International Line semifinals and do away with the Pink Stream.
Florida will play games three-time protecting nationwide champion Oklahoma within the semifinals Monday. Erickson, a catcher, gained a countrywide championship with Oklahoma endmost season. The Gators must beat the Sooners two times to achieve the best-of-three championship order, day Oklahoma will want only one win to walk on.
“I think it’s going to be fun seeing some old friends,” Erickson stated. “It’s going to be definitely a competitive semifinals, so we’re getting after it.”
Erickson penniless a connect with Megan Bush for the varsity’s single-season RBI file and now has 84. Bush poised the former file of 80 in 2011.
Korbe Otis and Ariel Kowalewski every added two hits for the Gators (53-14) in a sport that began 3 hours past due as a result of mist and lightning.
Florida pitcher Keagan Rothrock recovered from a coarse trip towards Texas the former evening. The freshman gave up 3 earned runs on seven hits towards Alabama and now could be lonely because the folk’s chief with 32 wins.
“I think she turned the page,” Erickson stated. “She was hitting her spots better, more focused, more determined. It’s a learning curve yesterday. It’s her freshman year. I’m really proud of her for turning the page.”
Kayla Beaver were given the beginning for Alabama and gave up two runs on six hits in 4 innings. Jocelyn Briski were given the loss in diversion for the Pink Stream (39-20).
The Pink Stream completed 9th within the Southeastern Convention all the way through the usual season however gained their regional at house, nearest beat Negative. 3 seed Tennessee at the highway in tremendous regionals. Alabama misplaced its International Line opener to UCLA, nearest beat Duke to conserve the season alive.
“It’s a team whose legacy is going to be they didn’t give up on each other, they kept working,” Alabama educator Patrick Murphy stated. “Doesn’t matter what you do regular season, you get a whole new start and you can start fresh. I think they proved to everybody that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”
Alabama opened the scoring towards Florida in the second one. Bailey Dowling were given on then a fielding error and he or she scored on a grounder by means of Riley Valentine.
Florida secured it within the 3rd when Erickson’s unmarried knocked in Skylar Wallace. Otis scored on a fielder’s selection then getting on with a move to place the Gators up 2-1.
Alabama secured it at 2 within the 3rd when Marlie Giles singled to attain Lauren Johnson.
Reagan Walsh singled and knocked in a run within the 5th to place Florida again in entrance.
Erickson got here up with runners on first and 3rd with two outs within the 6th, and Alabama switched from Briski to Alea Johnson to provide her a distinct glance. Erickson took a Johnson sound over the centerfield wall to construct it 6-2.
Alabama hung tricky. Kali Heivilin’s RBI unmarried within the 6th made it 6-4. However Rothrock put the Pink Stream indisposed to deliver within the 7th.
Now, the Gators may just derail Oklahoma’s effort to change into the primary group to win 4 immediately nationwide titles.
“I’m excited for the matchup,” Florida educator Tim Walton stated. “You come to the Women’s College World Series, you get an opportunity to play Oklahoma, you’re doing something right. I am looking forward to it.”
