Florida routs Virginia Tech, becomes only SEC team to advance to Women's College World Series
Florida entered Sunday as the SEC’s last chance to qualify a team for the Women’s College World Series.
The Gators were in Blacksburg for the Super Regional, facing a do-or-die Game 3. And, wow, did they ever deliver.
The game was never in doubt. Florida came out and took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Then, the Gators added 3 more runs in the second. The floodgates really opened in the third, though, as Florida put up a 6-spot in that frame.
That gave Florida a 10-0 cushion, but it wasn’t done just yet. Skylar Wallace added a home run in the fifth inning to give her team a 12-0 lead:
Watch out when @Wallace2Skylar is at the plate ?
? @espn #RoadToWCWS x @GatorsSB pic.twitter.com/cjoY1MRUbT
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 29, 2022
That was more than enough for pitchers Lexie Delbrey and Natalie Lugo, who combined for 5 shutout innings to give the Gators a dominant 12-0 victory via the run rule.
This is Florida’s 11th trip to the Women’s College World Series. The Gators will take on Oregon State in their first matchup in Oklahoma City:
CHOMP CHOMP ?
A completely dominant outing has (14) @GatorsSB back in the #WCWS for the 11th time in program history after defeating (3) Virginia Tech, 12-0 (5 inn.).#RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/NAIuC9UovM
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 29, 2022
Wallace had a team-high 4 RBI in the win. Avery Goelz had 3, Charla Echols added 2 and Kendra Falby and Sam Roe each had 1 to lead the Gator offense.
Can the Gators continue their hot hitting and dominant pitching in Oklahoma City? We’ll find out soon enough. The hopes of the SEC rest on Florida’s shoulders!