The Big 12 Conference continued super regional action on Saturday with two teams facing elimination and two teams facing a chance to clinch a berth in the Women’s College World Series.
The two teams that faced elimination were eliminated. The two teams that had the chance to clinch will have to play a Game 3 on Sunday.
Here is a wrap of the second day of NCAA softball super regionals.
Lincoln Super Regional
No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Oklahoma State
Game 1: Nebraska 8, Oklahoma State 1
Game 2: Nebraska 9, Oklahoma State 1 (five innings)
The Cowgirls were eliminated from the postseason as their offense simply could get much going against Cornhusker starter Alexis Jensen and her relief, Jordy Frahm, who started Game 1. Nebraska is on its way to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2013.
Oklahoma State scored its only run in the first inning and had a 1-0 lead before Nebraska answered back, chased starter Ruby Meylan from the game in the top of the fifth and unloaded with seven runs to run-rule the game.
Gainesville Super Regional
No. 6 Florida vs. No. 11 Texas Tech
Game 1: Texas Tech 10, Florida 8
Game 2: Florida 10, Texas Tech 2
Game 3: 11 a.m. CT, Sunday, ESPNU
If Florida was frustrated by how it lost Game 1 of supers to Texas Tech, well the Gators worked it out on Saturday. Jocelyn Erickson homered and drove in three runs (3-for-5) while Madison Walker also homered and drove in three runs (2-for-3). Kenleigh Cahalan went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs as the Gators led 2-0 after the first inning and never trailed.
Texas Tech went with Samantha Lincoln in the circle, who went 3.1 inning and allowed nine hits and five earned runs. Nijaree Canady relieved her and allowed five hits and five earned runs in 3.2 innings. Canady has come in as a reliever in each of the first two games. She figures to be the starter on Sunday.
Lagi Quiroga and Jasmyn Burns each drove in a run but neither had a hit.
Austin Super Regional
No. 2 Texas vs. Arizona State
Game 1: Arizona State 4, Texas 1
Game 2: Texas 4, Arizona State 3
Game 3: 3:30 p.m. CT Sunday, TV TBA
Texas lived to fight another day by scoring two runs in the fifth and sixth innings after falling behind, 2-0, and then 3-2 after the Sun Devils answered with a run in the fifth inning after Samantha Swan hit a home run. Texas answered with a two-run home run by pinch-hitter Victoria Hunter that put the Longhorns ahead for good.
Meika Lauppe and Kenzie Brown shared duties in the circle, but it was Brown, who pitched in relief, who gave up the go-ahead home run.
Los Angeles Super Regional
No. 8 UCLA vs. UCF
Game 1: UCLA 9, UCF 1 (5 innings)
Game 2: UCLA 14, UCF 4
Game 3: Sunday – TBD (if necessary)
The Knights put up a fight as they took an early 1-0 lead on a home run by Aubrey Evans. The Bruins then scored six unanswered runs to grab a 6-1 lead before the Knights scored three runs in the fifth to cut the lead to two runs. The Knights scored those runs on an error, a sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk. They stranded three runners to end the frame.
Those stranded runners would have helped. Aleena Garcia’s three-run home run gave the Bruins a six-run lead in the sixth inning. UCLA scored five more runs in the seventh inning to clinch a WCWS berth.
Izzy Mertez went 3-for-4 for the Knights.
