SEATTLE _ It took two-and-a-half hours, and more than 120 pitches, but University of Washington pitcher Danielle Lawrie kept her team alive in the first of two scheduled games Friday night.
Lawrie struck out 10 and allowed just two hits as the Huskies rebounded from Thursday night’s opening-game loss, beating Oklahoma 3-0 to force a third and deciding game in the NCAA super-regional. The two teams are scheduled to meet again at around 8:45 p.m., with the winner of that game moving on to next week’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Lawrie (39-3) was coming off the worst outing of her career after giving up five home runs in a 6-1 loss to the Sooners on Thursday night, and the focus was evident on her face from the get-go Friday. She turned in a gritty effort but had to throw a lot of pitches in the first of her two expected starts Friday night.
Lawrie essentially avoided any rematch with OU star Amber Flores, who hit three homers off her Thursday. Flores drew two walks and a hit-by-pitch in her first three plate appearances Friday, then got her to ground out to third to end the game in the bottom of the seventh.
UW’s Niki Williams opened the second inning with a triple, then scored the first run of the game on a Taylor Smith double.
The Huskies (49-7) added two runs on a bases-loaded walk and a fielder’s choice in the top of the sixth. OU rested pitcher Keilani Ricketts in the seventh inning, after the freshman had thrown 87 pitches.
Ricketts and Lawrie are expected to start again in the night game.
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