Huskies clinch spot in softball World Series
Published 7:54 pm Friday, May 24, 2013
COLUMBIA, Mo. — One swing of the bat.
That’s all the offense the University of Washington softball team needed Friday to secure a spot in the 2013 Women’s College World Series.
Junior outfielder Victoria Hayward led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to right field and the Huskies held on for a 1-0 victory over Missouri and a two-game sweep of their best-of-three NCAA Super Regional. Washington, ranked No. 9 in the nation, beat the sixth-ranked Tigers 2-1 Thursday in eight innings in the series opener.
Friday’s victory earned the Huskies their 11th trip to the eight-team Women’s College World Series and their first since 2010. Washington won the NCAA championship in 2009.
The Huskies managed just two hits off Missouri pitcher Chelsea Thomas (24-6), both by Hayward, who finished the contest 2-for-2.
UW pitchers Bryana Walker and Kaitlin Inglesby combined on the shutout. Walker (19-7) earned the win, throwing the first five innings. She allowed two hits and struck out four. Inglesby collected her second save of the season with two innings of hitless relief.
The loss ended the season for Missouri (38-14).
The WCWS opens Thursday in Oklahoma City. The Huskies (43-15) play the winner of this weekend’s Nebraska-Oregon Super Regional in the first round.
