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Game Four: Washington 4, Utah 1
After a weather delay Thursday night forced the Huskies to make their 2023 Women’s College World Series debut on Friday instead, they proved the wait was well worth it.
Designated hitter Rylee Holtorf was on fire at the plate, as she brought in three runs on the day, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the second. Her RBI single later in the fourth inning extended Washington’s lead.
Meanwhile, Washington’s Pac-12 foe, Utah, scored its only run in the top of the second inning. Haley Denning doubled and then Kendall Lundberg quickly followed with another double, driving in Denning.
Utah’s Mariah Lopez threw six innings, striking out five batters and giving up seven hits and four earned runs. The home run given up to Holtorf was the first home run Lopez gave up in the postseason, and the Utes' offense just couldn’t find a way to help her out.
Washington will continue on in the winners’ bracket and face Florida State on Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Game Five: Stanford 2, Alabama 0
In what was a battle between some of the best pitchers college softball has to offer, Alana Vawter and the Stanford Cardinal came out victorious, eliminating Montana Fouts and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The only two runs scored in the game came from Sydney Steele, when she launched an RBI double and later hit a solo home run to left field in the seventh inning.
Vawter rolled right through the game, tossing five shutout innings and allowing just one hit. Freshman NiJaree Canady entered in relief and threw one hitless inning, striking out three of the five batters she faced.
With the loss, Fouts' extraordinary collegiate career came to an end.
With the win, Stanford avoided elimination and will play the loser of game eight between Florida State and Washington on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Game Six: Oklahoma State 8, Utah 0
No one had a better day at the plate than the Oklahoma State Cowgirls. After being run-ruled by Florida State on Thursday, they certainly showed they were not ready to go home just yet when they turned around and run-ruled Utah.
With the victory, OSU became the first team in Women’s College World Series history to be shut out and run-ruled in the opening game and then to shut out and run-rule its opponent in the next contest.
What started with two runs in the first inning, exploded into six runs in the second inning. Taylor Tuck led off with a double, which sparked a streak of seven straight runners to reach base before Utah could manage to get an out.
Utah threatened to score only once, but OSU’s Lexi Kilfoyl was untouchable in the circle, throwing a complete-game shutout.
Utah dropped its second game of the day, ending its first WCWS run since 1994 and one incredible 2023 season.
Oklahoma State will play Sunday against the loser of game seven between Oklahoma and Tennessee at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
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