WOMEN'S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
WINNER'S BRACKET
UCLA 6, FLORIDA 5
WHAT HAPPENED: Catcher
Taylor Pack cracked a three-run homer that capped a five-run fifth inning for the Bruins, who rallied from a 4-0 hole to beat the Gators in Friday night's Women's College World Series winner's bracket action at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. Pack's homer, just her third of the season, came after UF starter
Kelly Barnhill, who struck out eight of the first nine batters she faced, allowed her first base runner by committing a throwing error off a bunt attempt. Her control went south after that and Pack made her pay after a controversial call at home plate (read on).
Bubba Nickles added a solo homer in the fifth for UCLA, which also got a second complete game in as many nights from National Player of the Year
Rachel Garcia, who scattered seven hits and struck out 15 in improving to 29-3. Florida got homers from
Sophia Reynoso and
Kayli Kvistad to help build its 4-0 advantage through three innings, and another homer from pinch-hitter
Jordan Roberts in the bottom of the sixth to close margin to a run. The Gators had runners at first and third later in the inning, but Garcia got
Amanda Lorenz, the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, on a grounder back to the box to exit the threat. Barnhill (29-2) allowed just three hits and fanned 12, but control issues in that one inning proved the difference in just her second loss of the season. UF coach
Tim Walton was ejected with two outs in the top of the seventh inning after arguing with home plate umpire
Brandon Bluhm.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Barnhill, behind an error of her own, a hit batter and walk, loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, though still leading 4-0. After walking in a run, she got
Madeline Jelenicki to foul out to Reynoso, the UF shortstop, who made a great play up the line and near the wall. The UCLA runner at third,
Aaliyah Jordan, tagged and raced home. Reynoso's throw to catcher
Janell Wheaton was perfect, but the home plate umpire ruled Jordan safe, instead of being the third out of the inning (replays showed Wheaton putting the tag on Jordan's back side just before her foot hit home). The next batter was Pack, who crushed her homer over the left field wall.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The Bruins' moxie. Make that two comebacks from 4-0 deficits in as many games at the WCWS. They trailed Florida State in Thursday's opener 4-0 after 4 1/2 innings before getting a run in the fifth and six in the seventh to oust the seventh-seeded Seminoles. Friday marked UCLA's 14th come-from-behind win of the season. Garcia combined for 30 strikeouts in the two games.
STAGGERING STATISTIC: UCLA's game-changing, five-run inning came via just one hit.
One. It was a big one, obviously.
UP NEXT: Florida (56-10) will play in Saturday's elimination round for the first time in its last five trips to OKC (the last coming in 2013). The Gators will face the survivor of Saturday morning's elimination game between two-time defending champion Oklahoma (55-4) and Arizona State (54-10) Saturday at 6 p.m. The winner of that one moves into Sunday's semifinals to face surprising Washington (61-8), out of the winner's bracket, and already with a 2-0 shutout win over No. 4-seed OU in its first game and 6-2 upset Friday of No. 1-seed Oregon.
