OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Florida senior NFCA All-American hurler Hannah Rogers twirled a three-hit shutout, guiding the Gators (52-12) to Sunday’s Women’s College World Series semifinals with a 4-0 victory over top-seeded Oregon (55-8-1) on Friday night at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Rogers walked one and struck out five in improving to 28-8 overall, while her counterpart from UO, Cheridan Hawkins, dropped to 34-5 after permitting four earned runs on five hits with two walks and three K’s over just 3.1 frames.
Florida’s offense banged out eight hits as right fielder Bailey Castro (3-for-4, HR, two RBIs) and left fielder Briana Little (1-for-3, double, two RBIs) contributed the RBI production. At the top of the line-up, second baseman Kelsey Stewart and center fielder Kirsti Merritt ignited the attack as each went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Third baseman Courtney Ceo, center fielder Koral Costa and shortstop Nikki Udria combined to register the three total base knocks for the Ducks.
Box Score | Florida Quotes | Oregon Quotes | Notes
"First, just want to congratulate the Gators on a great game," Florida head coach Tim Walton said. "I thought Hannah pitched a wonderful game, and the game plan going into this was executed excellently. I thought we did a really good job. I know we didn't finish as strong as we would like. But we had such a main focus on Hawkins and the way they brought her in there, that had a lot to do with changing the eye level and the spin. We came out with a good plan and executed a good plan and I think it all sounds great. But Hannah pitched a great game and that's why we're here right now."
Early on the Gators basically picked up right where they left off from Thursday’s rout of Baylor, as Castro crushed a solo HR over the temporary bleachers in center to give the Gators a 1-0 lead in the second.
Costa granted the Ducks their initial base runner of the contest by driving a one-out single back up the middle in the bottom of the second. Unfortunately for Oregon right fielder Alexa Peterson hit into a 5-4-3 double play to quickly conclude the frame.
With Florida searching for more on the scoreboard, Stewart christened the third with a sharp single back through the box. Following a stolen base, Merritt walked, placing a pair aboard with still no one retired. Hawkins responded to the threat from the circle, striking out designated player Lauren Haeger looking and getting a terrific sliding catch in foul ground from her left fielder Janie Takeda for two big outs. She couldn’t get Castro, however, as the UF right fielder burned her again with an RBI single to left as the advantage expanded to 2-0. That’s when disaster struck for the Ducks as second baseman Karine Shaver drifted back while attempting to catch a high pop-up from left fielder Briana Little. The UO fielder got her feet tangled, falling but making a valiant effort to even touch the ball as the orb dropped in for a two-RBI double and a four-run Gator advantage.
After Oregon left a runner stranded in the bottom of the third, Florida’s offense knocked Hawkins out of the contest in the top of the fourth as shortstop Katie Medina walked and Stewart followed with a base knock up the middle. Karissa Hovinga entered the circle in a relief appearance and was rudely greeted with a single to left off the bat of Merritt as UF packed the bags. Haeger stepped to the dish and hit a ball just to Hovinga’s left. The hurler moved over quickly to corral the bouncer, tossing home for a big force out. Then third baseman Stephanie Tofft lifted the first pitch she received to left, and Peterson tracked down the “can of corn” to allow UO to escape a massive jam.
Ceo attempted to provide Oregon’s offense some life in the bottom of the sixth by dropping a perfect bunt single out in front of the plate. Unfortunately for the Ducks, designated player Alyssa Gillespie lined right back to the circle, and Rogers finished off an inning-ending double play on a quick toss to first.
With one final chance for the Ducks to get back into the match-up in the last half of the seventh, Takeda flew out to right, catcher Janelle Lindvall struck out swinging and Costa popped up to Rogers behind the circle as Florida advanced on to Sunday’s WCWS semifinals.
