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NCAA Softball Regionals: Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, Washington, Utah headed to Super Regional

by Shayna Rubin
May 22, 2016
@samwow55

Oregon

The No. 5 Ducks got the job done, defeating Baylor 8-1 in Eugene to send Oregon to the Super Regionals. Cheridan Hawkins, of course, led the way. Hawkins threw 4.2 innings of no-hit ball and gave up just three hits. Megan Kleist came in in relief of Hawkins after the Bears put runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth. She struck Sarah Smith out swinging to end the threat. Jenna Lilley, Nikkie Udria, Lauren Lindvall and Alyssa Gillespie all tallied RBsI--including a bomb from Udria-- en route to the win. The Ducks will play fellow Pac-12 team UCLA in the Super Regionals.

Utah

The Utes pulled of a major upset, sending No. 9 Kentucky packing in a 5-3 elimination game win. Utah went to their work horse Katie Donovan, who pitched 6.2 innings and gave up three runs on four hits. But Kentucky was just chasing. Utah took a 3-0 lead in the fifth thanks to Hannah Flippen and Anissa Uretz, who both notched RBI singles. The Utes tacked another run on in the sixth and one more, for good measure, in the seventh to keep Kentucky at bay. The Utes will face No. 8 Florida State in the Super Regionals. 

UCLA

UCLA pulled of a big comeback, beating CSU Fullerton 5-3 and punching a ticket to the Super Regionals. The Bruins fell to an early 3-0 deficit after a base-clearing RBI double in the second from Delynn Rippy. That sent Joanna Grauer back to the dugout and Selina Ta'amilo took over. Ta'amilo allowed one more before ending the threat. The Bruins answered right back, rallying for five runs in the third inning that included a Delaney Spaulding three-run bomb and Mysha Sataraka solo shot to give the Bruins the 5-3 lead. UCLA held on to that lead, though Fullerton cut it down to one run in the sixth. Ta'amilo gave up just one earned run and seven hits in her four innings of work. Paige McDuffy finished it off with 1.2 innings of no-hit work.

Washington

The No.11 Huskies dominated Minnesota, punching its ticket to the Super Regionals with a 15-7 win in Seattle. Washington scored at least one run in every inning, piling on 14 hits including five doubles and two bombs from Ali Aguilar and Morganne Flores. Minnesota kept fighting, though, tacking four runs against Taran Alvelo. Alvelo was taken out after hitting two batters and replaced with Hailey Bator, who let her two inherited runners score and allowed another three runs to score. Madi Schreyer took over the stressful fifth and shut it down. The Huskies will play No. 6 Alabama in the Super Regionals.

Arizona

Arizona walked off to the Super Regionals after pulling out a 4-3, extra-inning win over Tennessee in Knoxville. The 'Cats took an early 1-0 lead in the third thanks to a Mo Mercado RBI single. The Vols answered right back, though, knocking Danielle O' Toole out of the game after Lexi Overstreet clocked a three-run go-ahead dinger. Taylor McQuillin took over, escaping the third and holding the Vols scoreless through 2.2 innings. The 'Cats rallied back, knocking in two runs on a ground out and sac fly to tie things up at 3-3. 

Nancy Bowling reached first on an error to start the eighth inning off, and Lauren Young pushed her to second on a sac bunt. Tamara Statman hit a single to left field and Bowling advanced to third, then home, on an error to give the 'Cats the walk-off win. Arizona plays No. 4 Auburn in the Super Regionals.

Arizona State

The Sun Devils season came to an end Sunday morning after falling 2-0 to No. 10 Louisiana State. Kelsey Kessler kept it close early on, surrendering one unearned run in the second on a throwing error. Kessler got into trouble in the fourth, giving up a leadoff double to Simmons. LSU loaded the bases after drawing a bunt single and a walk and that was it for Kessler, who surrendered the mound to Dale Ryndak. Ryndak nearly escaped the threat, allowing just one of her inherited runners to score before shutting the next two batters down. The offense had no answer, collecting just four hits in the shutout. But Jenn Soria's spectacular home-run robbing catch at the wall might make up for things.

California

Cal put up a good fight against No. 6 Alabama, but a 8-0 loss in the Regional Final on Sunday in Tuscaloosa knocked the Bears out of contention. The Crimson Tide packed the runs on early. Nisa Ontiveros shouldered the brunt of it, allowing back-to-back home runs in the first that gave Alabama a quick 3-0 lead and sent Ontiveros back to the dugout. Stephanie Trzcinski took over the circle to calm things down, but Alabama had more to say. They tacked on three more runs in the second to give the Crimson Tide a comfortable 6-0 lead through most of the game. The Bears had no answer. Alexis Osorio shut Cal out with a 6.2 inning, three-hit, seven-strikeout gem. 

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