Kyle Maistri
Pregame
UF's lineup is the big pregame news for this game. With Tiffany DeFelice going down in the first game with a wrist injury, coach Tim Walton shook up the order. Francesca Enea and Ali Gardiner swapped spots in the order. With TD out, Walton needs to make sure he gets a bat behind Enea to protect his hottest hitter. Corrie Brooks slides all the way up to fifth, keep in mind before the WCWS she hadn't hit anywhere but ninth the whole season. She's swinging a hot bat though. Kristine Priebe will fill in for TD at the designated player role and hit eighth in the lineup. Priebe has had just 25 at-bats this season.
Everything is on the line in this game. The Gators have all the momentum and motivation. It could come down to who pitches a better game between Stacey Nelson and Megan Gibson. Kim Waleszonia is just 1 for 14 in this tournament and needs to do a better job of getting on base to set the table. The Aggies will be the visitor in this game and need Gibson to carry them offensively as well. Hopefully Kruk and the rest of the ESPN booth can stop eating dip n dots long enough to convey the magnitude of this showdown.
1st Inning
Nelson gets into trouble in the first inning after allowing a lead off single. With runners on first and third and two outs, second baseman Aja Paculba makes a fine defensive play on a hard hit ground ball to get the Gators out of the inning. Gibson makes quick works of the Gators in a one-two-three inning.
Don't expect a team to score six runs in this one, both pitchers want it too badly.
2nd Inning
For the second time in two innings, the Aggies threaten with two base runners but are unable to score. Leaving runners on base can kill a team's offense. Ali Gardiner lines a lead off single to center field, but UF is unable to do any further damage.
3rd Inning
Nelson keeps the Aggies off the base paths for the first time all game. Left fielder Francesca Enea made her second impressive diving catch in as many games, this one off the bat of Gibson. The Gators return the favor in the bottom half of the inning, going down in order.
Priebe looks like a player who hasn't had a whole lot of playing time. She checked four swings on her way to striking out.
4th Inning
Nelson makes quick work of the Aggies, and has now retired nine batters in a row. Gibson looks like a different pitcher than she did in the first game. Navigating through the heart of the Gators lineup and making a sensational grab on a hard line drive off the bat of Gardiner.
Anyone thinking one run wins this one? Probably in extras?
5th Inning
Nelson has really settled in now, extending her streak to 12 straight outs. A ball hasn't left the infield against Nelson since Rhi Kliesing lead off the game with a single to right field. Gibson has strung together a streak of 12 straight outs of her own. Mary Ratliff took a ball deep down the left field line and missed a home run by about four feet, instead it was just another out.
As much as you hate to see a great pitchers' duel come down to it; a defensive mistake could decide this game. I put my money on that or a solo home run that holds up.
6th Inning
Gibson breaks up Nelson's consecutive out streak at 13, punching a ball through the right side for a single. You got the feeling that giving up that single to Gibson was not only OK, but preferred. She's the one hitter on the Aggies that scares you as an extra base threat. Nelson easily gets out of the inning, quietly turning a rocky start into a gem.
In a game like this, you only get so many chances to take the lead and win the game. Hilberth, Waleszonia and Paculba all singled to load the bases for the Gators' two best hitters - Enea and Gardiner. Enea hit a hard ground ball to the third baseman who nailed Hilberth at the plate. And despite Gardiner working the count full, she could only manage a fly ball to left field. Gibson finally looked hittable, finally blinked and UF let her off the hook. Cue Walton doing his best Dennis Green impression after the game.
7th Inning
The Aggies had a good scoring chance of their own when Nelson puts two on with free passes. With one out, Gardiner fields a ground ball away from the bag and makes the very questionable decision of throwing the ball across the diamond to try to get the lead runner. In a bang-bang play, Jami Lobpries is called out at third by the thinnest of margins. If UF fails to record an out there, the Aggies would've been in great position. Ultimately Nelson works her way out of the inning. Brooks leads off the inning with a drive to deep left center field, missing a home run by merely a few feet. After Ratliff beats out a slow roller to second base and Walton brings in Le-Nett Franklin to pinch run, freshman Kelsey Bruder comes off the bench to pinch hit. She ends the inning with a strikeout.
For the third time in this WCWS the Gators are going into extra innings. Being the home team in this situation has to help a little bit mentally.
8th Inning
The Aggies get the lead off batter on again when Natalie Villarreal singles to right field. In a coaching move way over my head, A&M coach Jo Evans has Gibson sacrifice bunt. I would compare this to having Albert Pujols bunt in that situation. Pujols is so easily the best hitter in the Cardinals' lineup, and to have him not even take a swing in that situation is playing not to lose, instead of playing to win. Nelson gets a ground ball and a fly out to end the inning. If the Gators score in the bottom half, Gibson ends her illustrious career on a sacrifice bunt, unbelievable. Paculba is able to draw a two-out walk, but Gibson stays in control and strikes out Enea to end the eighth inning. Clearly, she's not too fond of the idea of her last at-bat being a sacrifice either.
9th Inning
Nelson sits down the first two Aggies with no problems in the top of the ninth. Macie Morrow scratches out a hit to right field to give her team a spark. Nelson then gets ahead of the next batter, Kelsey Spittler, before surrendering a hard ground ball over first base that rolls all the way to the right field corner. Morrow circles the bases and scores without a throw, Paculba takes the throw from Ratliff and relays it to Brooks at third where Spittler is tagged out after being unable to stay on the base. This game feels over just like the Virginia Tech game felt over after Waleszonia mishandled a ball in center field. I've never seen a team win without scoring a run, and UF will be no different tonight.
Gardiner leads off the inning with a single through the middle. Gardiner has seemingly sparked every big inning the Gators have had in this tournament. Ami Austin comes in to pinch run and Walton decides to try to bunt with Brooks. Gibson falls behind 2-0, but Brooks fails to get the bunt down on the next two strikes. With a 2-2 count, Brooks fights off a ball into right field that falls for a bloop single. Ratliff, who had the big hit against Angela Tincher to win the Tech game, grounds a ball to second base that goes for a tag-and-throw double play. Brooks probably should've given herself up and stopped to avoid the tag, but you can't blame her for not being able to turn off the 100 percent switch. Unceremoniously, Megan Bush pops up the first pitch she sees to the first baseman in foul territory. Simultaneously ending one dream and fueling another.
For the second time in two seasons, the Aggies end the Gators postseason. This time on the grandest of stages, one win away from the championship game. The offense had opportunities, but could never scratch out a run against Gibson. One big hit won the game. This is the end of the line for Ratliff, who will go out after her most productive year as a Gator. The rest of the team will remember this experience and likely be back in Oklahoma City next year. Both aces pitched phenomenal games, hats off to Stacey Nelson and Megan Gibson.
