2014 Women's College World Series: Day 1 Recap

Four games were played in Oklahoma City for the opening day of the 2014 Women's College World Series. The four games were Baylor vs. Florida, Florida State vs. Oregon, Kentucky vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, and Oklahoma vs. Alabama. Here is a recap of each game on opening day in the double elimination tournament.

#13 Baylor vs. #5 Florida

The #5 seed Florida Gators jumped on the Baylor Bears early and often in the opening game of the day as they went on to win 11-0 in five innings. The Gators started the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning on a Stephanie Tofft sacrifice fly that scored Kirsti Merritt. Three batters later, right fielder Bailey Castro drove home two more runs and the Gators got out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Florida would not score again until the third inning Kirsti Merritt had a lead off solo shot. Florida added another run in the bottom half of the fourth inning before putting the finishing touches on the game in the 5th inning.

Florida led 5-0 heading into the bottom of the 5th inning. The bases were quickly loaded after a single from Lauren Haeger, a double by Stephanie Tofft, and an infield single by Briana Little. Justine McLean hit a fielders choice, but the throw was late to home plate and Damico scored to make it 6-0. Taylor Schwarz was hit by a pitch to make it 7-0 before Chelsea Herndon stepped to the plate to pinch-hit for catcher Aubree Munro. On a 1-2 pitch, Herndon crushed the ball out to left-center and give the Florida Gators the 11-0 win.

Normally, softball games are 7 innings long, but there is a run-rule in place in college softball. If a team has had 5 at-bats and is trailing by 8 runs or more, the game will be over. In this case, Baylor had appeared at bat five times and were down 11 runs, thus the game ended after five innings. During the tournament run for the Gators, they have had five of seven games end because of the run rule.

The Gators starting pitcher Hannah Rogers was dominant going five innings with three strikeouts while only giving up three hits. The Gators have posted six shutouts in their seven postseason games.

Baylor had an awful day, but they still have a fighting chance. Starting pitcher Whitney Canion went 3 1/3 innings giving up five runs on four hits. She also had two strikeouts and two walks. Heather Stearns came on in relief but she only lasted 2/3 of an inning and gave up six runs on five hits.

#8 Florida State vs. #1 Oregon

The top seeded Oregon Ducks used another strong performance by Cheridan Hawkins to win their opening game of the Women's College World Series. In fact, Hawkins only gave up one hit, a lead-off single to Florida State's All-American Shortstop Maddie Brown in the first inning.

The Ducks started strong in the bottom of the first inning against the Seminoles' All-American pitcher Lacey Waldrop. A Janelle Lindvall fielder's choice scored Alyssa Gillespie to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Oregon added an insurance run in the bottom of the second when Nikki Udria singled up the middle to score Alexa Peterson. Alexa Peterson topped off the scoring for the Ducks in the bottom half of the fifth with a double down the left field line. Koral Costa scored to provide the final score of 3-0.

Oregon's Cheridan Hawkins was strong throughout the entire game. She went seven innings giving up just opening lead-off hit and only two walks. She struck out six batters as she improved to 34-4 on the season.

It was a rough day for All-American Lacey Waldrop. She went five innings surrendering three runs on 10 hits and a walk. She recorded only two strikeouts.

Florida State will play Baylor on Saturday in an elimination game. Oregon will take on the Florida Gators on Friday for an inside track to the Championship Series.

#14 Kentucky vs. #6 Louisiana-Lafayette

The #14 seeded Kentucky Wildcats made their opening debut in the Women's College World Series a winning one by a score of 4-1. Both starting pitchers did well during the game, but Kentucky's Kelsey Nunley had the better outing. She gave up one run on one hit. She did have five walks, but also struck out seven Ragin' Cajun batters.

Kentucky started the scoring in the top of the first with Lauren Cumbess' double to center field that scored Nikki Sagermann. Louisiana-Lafayette responded in the bottom of the first when Lexie Elkins hit a solo shot, her 23rd home run of the year. Kentucky regained the lead for good in the top of the 2nd with a Ginny Carroll sacrifice fly.

Lauren Cumbess added a solo homer of her own to extend Kentucky's lead to 3-1 in the 4th inning. Cumbess was again at the start of another scoring play in the 6th inning. Cumbess laid down a bunt that was fielded by Louisiana-Lafayette's Christina Hamilton who threw the ball wide. First basewoman Kelsey Vincent was unable to handle the throw and Kentucky's Maisie Steed scored on the errant throw to give the Wildcats the final 4-1 advantage.

Christina Hamilton had a solid outing despite the loss. She went the full seven innings giving up four runs on five hits and three walks. She had two strikeouts as well. Hamilton has gained some notoriety for the glasses she wears as they bear a striking resemblance to actor Charlie Sheen's character, Ricky Vaughn, from the movie Major League.

#7 Oklahoma vs. #2 Alabama

Both of these teams came in with a little bit of history of meetings in the Women's College World Series. In 2012, Alabama and Oklahoma met in the Championship Series. Alabama won the series two games to won and the National Title. Oklahoma won the 2013 National Championship by sweeping Tennessee in the Championship Series.

On this evening, Alabama used the long ball and the arm of Jaclyn Traina to win 6-2. Oklahoma got off to a great start with Shelby Pendley's solo home run. Alabama would answer in the bottom of the second as Kaila Hunt scored on Marisa Runyon's single into right field. Oklahoma once again got the lead back in the top of the fourth inning after back-to-back errors by Danae Hays and Leona Lafaele. Erin Miller came home to give the Sooners the 2-1 lead, but the lead would not last long.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Kaila Hunt and Molly Fitchtner both singled to get on base. After Marisa Runyon flied out Peyton Grantham came to the plate. On a 2-2 pitch she hit the ball out of the yard to left-center and give Alabama the 4-2 lead. Kallie Case added a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 6-2.

Alabama's Jaclyn Traina pitched a wonderful game. She went seven innings giving up two runs on one hit. She had five walks, but struck out nine Sooners in the game.

Alabama will take on Kentucky the Winner's Bracket on Friday. Meanwhile, the Sooners will be looking to stave off elimination against Louisiana Lafayette.