2013 Softball World Series Austin Super Regional Breakdown
Location: Austin, Texas
#4 Texas vs. Florida State
How They Advanced:
The #4 Texas Longhorns breezed their way to an opening round 5-0 win over Army at home in Austin. Mandy Ogle’s three-run shot in the first allowed ace Blair Luna to be removed in the third inning. South Carolina had a bit more trouble with Houston, but a career day by Junior Ashlyn Masters would secure a 6-4 win. Masters provided all of the offense with not only a Grand Slam in the third inning, but a two-run double in the 7th inning to seal the deal.
Houston would rebound on Saturday to defeat Army 7-5 while Texas’ Blaire Luna threw a complete-game, five inning gem against South Carolina. The Longhorns were unstoppable, scoring in every one of the five frames. Sunday provides a Longhorn/Gamecock rematch with a Super Regional berth on the line as SC defeated Houston 5-1 in the win-or-go-home contest. Pitcher Audrey Broyles surrendered four hits and the Gamecocks plated five runs in the fifth, setting up Sunday’s rematch.
On Sunday Taylor Hoagland drew a leadoff walk and shortstop Taylor Thom made it count with a two run blast to give the Longhorns an early 2-0 lead. The Gamecocks couldn’t solve Blaire Luna who struck out eight and gave up only three hits. Thom would provide insurance by launching a Grand Slam in the fifth, finishing with all six RBIs in the game. The Longhorns advance to the Super Regional and will play at home.
Regionals - Mobile, Alabama:
#13 South Alabama entered the regional at home as a hot team, and the trend continued behind Hannah Campbell’s six inning perfect game against the Mississippi Valley State Devillettes on Friday. Blair Johnson cracked a three run triple to ignite the offense in the 10-0 shutout. In the other opening game, Lacey Waldrop struck out 11 Mississippi State Bulldogs and Celeste Gomez homered the FSU Seminoles to a 5-2 win.
Saturday would see the Noles’ Waldrop strike out ten USA Jaguars and Maddie O’Brien’s solo homer in the 4th inning and RBI single in the 6th gave the Noles a 2-1 upset win. South Alabama would rebound with a 3-0 win over Mississippi State to advance to Sunday to face the Seminoles again. Farish Beard struck out 14 Bulldogs in the win.
On Sunday, South Alabama, playing at home but facing elimination, forced a winner-take-all second game against Florida State. Farish Beard tossed a two-hit gem and Kaitlyn Griffith and Hayley Fagan homered for USA in the 3-0 win. In the deciding game, South Alabama posted six runs in the second inning and were within an out of a win when bedlam broke out. A five run seventh inning, highlighted by a Kelly Hensley Grand Slam brought the Noles all the way back to a 6-6 tie, and a Victoria East solo shot in the eighth punched FSU’s ticket to the Super Regional.
Projection:
Blair Luna is one of the nation’s top power pitchers. The strikeout will be a factor when the Longhorns play Florida State. FSU counters with Lacey Waldrop, no stranger to the K. Texas, once a perennial power, will be at home, which could prove to be the difference. Texas defeats the Noles in three.
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