Washington on verge of Women’s College World Series title after 8-0 defeat of Florida

Washington 1 win away from NCAA softball title

OKLAHOMA CITY — Washington brought the lowest scoring team in the Women’s College World Series to face the Florida pitcher with the best ERA in the nation.

What a mismatch it turned out to be.

The Huskies’ offense came alive with the help of a wild throw, and Washington routed the top-seeded Gators 8-0 on Monday night in Game 1 of the World Series finals.

Jenn Salling’s single in the third inning brought in four runs when catcher Kristina Hilbreth tried to throw a runner out at second — her throw sailing into center field.

“You might not have the highest batting average ever in the country,” said Washington coach Heather Tarr, whose team entered the World Series with the lowest scoring average (5.2) of the eight teams in the field.

“What’s important is that we peak at the right time and get the hits when we need them.”

The third-seeded Huskies (50-12) can win their first NCAA softball title in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series Tuesday night.

Washington loaded the bases with a walk and two infield grounders before Salling lined a single through the infield that Kim Waleszonia fielded in shallow center. She fired home too late to get Ashley Charters, and Hilberth then zipped a throw back toward second that sailed over even Waleszonia as she made a leaping attempt to catch it.

Two more runs scored as the ball rolled into deep center field, giving Washington a 4-0 edge.

Morgan Stuart added a two-run double in the fifth inning as the Huskies scored six runs off Stacey Nelson, the nation’s stingiest pitcher with an 0.48 ERA. Nelson (41-4) had consecutive shutouts to open the World Series and had given up more than two runs in a game only three times all season.

Florida’s 29-game winning streak was snapped.

“We’ll take it,” said Salling, a member of the Canadian Olympic team who joined Washington in April.

Danielle Lawrie (41-8), the national player of the year and Salling’s Olympic teammate, threw a two-hitter to set a Washington record with her 41st career shutout. Jennifer Spediacci, who pitched the Huskies to their last championship appearance in 1999, held the old record with 40.

The Gators (63-4) had committed only 39 errors in their first 66 games and ranked second in the nation in fielding percentage. Hilbreth’s throw was just her third error of the season.

“I think it was just uncharacteristic for us, so it was kind of a ‘What’s happening?’ moment,” Nelson said. “We kind of had to dig in and find our identity.

“I think that’s just not the way we play normally, so it kind of stunned us.”

There was an awkward moment after Kelsey Bruder struck out to end the sixth inning as both teams lined up for postgame handshakes, thinking the game was over because of the mercy rule. However, the eight-run rule is not in effect during the championship series and the teams were told to resume play.

The grounds crew had already begun removing the bases from the field and the umpires had already left, too.

“It should have been a run-rule,” said Florida coach Tim Walton, admitting his team played badly enough for the game to be called off. “Overall, we’ve got to figure out a better way to approach the game tomorrow. Obviously, this game is of highs and lows. I haven’t seen this team be this low before.”

Ashley Charters added a two-run home run off reliever Stephanie Brombacher in the sixth inning, setting a school record with her 95th hit of the season in the process.