Following up a nail-biting win over UCLA Saturday night, May 30, the Tigers lost their chances of advancing in the Women’s College World Series against Florida, losing 3-2 Sunday afternoon, May 31.
Regardless of this loss, the team has made it a season to remember, claiming two All-Americans in Kasey Cooper and Emily Carosone on top of finishing in fifth for the most executed double plays (41) on defense and ranking within the top 10, eventually climbing to No. 4 for the first time in program history, not to mention its first ever appearance in the WCWS.
But like all good things, the Tigers’ season had to come to an end.
The first couple of innings kept both offenses from crossing the plate with strong defensive backups as usual, but the Gators grabbed the lead first with Justine McClean stealing home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the third.
The Tigers came back to take the lead in the top of the fourth when Branndi Melero sent a single to center, allowing Jade Rhodes and pinch runner Victoria Draper to score.
At 2-1, Florida eventually made its way back on a home run by Taylore Fuller. Cooper stepped up at third shortly after and snagged a highlight-worthy line drive before two more outs by Haley Fagan to end the fourth inning and force a tie.
The tie would stick throughout the game and spill into extra innings until it came down to the bottom of the ninth with the Gators on offense, one out and one on second. Florida’s Nicole Dewitt singled to left field, and the throw to home wasn’t fast enough to catch McClean.
McClean cleanly plated, and the Gators took the victory to advance in the series.
The Tigers finished with a 56-11 record with 18 conference wins.
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