Florida Defeats Michigan In Game One Of WCWS Finals, 3-2
The Florida Gators won the first game of the Women's College World Series championship series, defeating the Michigan Wolverines, 3-2, at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Florida, the top-seed in the tournament, and the defending national champions, now leads the best-of-three game series, 1-0, and needs only one more win to become the first team to repeat as national champs since the Arizona Wildcats in the 2006-2007 seasons.
Michigan, the third-seed, needs to win game two on Tuesday night to even the series, and force an if necessary game on Wednesday evening.
The win gives the Gators four wins in as many games in the 2015 WCWS, while the Wolverines saw their 28-game win streak come to an end.
Lauren Haeger, the 2105 USA Player of the Year, got the Gators on the scoreboard first, blasting a two-run home run in the bottom half of the first inning, scoring Kayli Kvistad in front of her, to give them a quick 2-0 lead.
Haeger struck again in bottom half of the third inning, doubling home Nicole Dewitt, to extend the Florida advantage to 3-0.
Michigan cut into the deficit in the top half of the sixth inning, plating two runs, when Abby Ramirez came through with a clutch two-out, two-run single, to trim the Florida lead to 3-2.
The Wolverines threatened again in the top half of the seventh, putting runners at first and third with nobody out, but failed to score, as the Gators hung on for the one-run opening game win.
Haeger led the way at the plate for the Gators, who were outhit the Wolverines, 6-4. going 2-for-3 with a double, a homer, and all three of Florida's RBI's.
In a losing cause for the Wolverines, Kelly Christner had two hits in four plate appearances.
Aleshia Ocasio (18-3) recorded the win in the circle for the Gators, allowing five hits and two runs in six innings, while Delaney Gourley pitched a scoreless seventh to record her fifth save of the season, and secure the win for Florida.
Megan Betsa (31-5) suffered the loss for the Wolverines, allowing four hits and three runs over 2.2 innings of work.
With the victory, Florida improved to 59-6, while Michigan fell to 59-7.
Game two is scheduled for Tuesday night at 7 o'clock (central time).
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