Gators eliminate Virginia Tech in extra innings

Jeff Latzke

Published: May 31, 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY _ Mary Ratliff hit a two-run double in the ninth inning as top-seeded Florida finally broke through against player of the year Angela Tincher to beat Virginia Tech 2-0 Saturday at the Women's College World Series.

Tincher struck out 19, one short of the World Series record, and had fanned Ratliff in her three previous at-bats before she grounded a two-out double past shortstop Misty Hall to break the scoreless tie and eliminate the unseeded Hokies (49-19) after their best season in school history.

Stacey Nelson (46-4) saved the Gators' season by pitching around a three-base error by center-fielder Kim Waleszonia to start the seventh inning. Erin Ota went all the way to third when Waleszonia misplayed her fly ball, and Nelson walked the bases loaded before getting Kelsey Hoffman to ground into a double play and Jessica Everhart to ground out to second.

Nelson gave up only two hits in her 17th shutout of the season.

Next up for Florida (68-4), which broke the NCAA record for wins in a season held by three other teams, was another elimination game Saturday night against second-seeded UCLA.

Tincher (38-10), who made headlines by no-hitting the U.S. Olympic team in March, got out of a jam in the first inning by striking out the heart of the Gators' lineup after runners reached second and third with nobody out. After Waleszonia's leadoff single, Aja Paculba bunted into an area on the left side of the infield that had been over-watered and Mariconda slipped while trying to field the ball.

Tincher took over, retiring the next 10 batters on her own with nine strikeouts and a line drive that she speared in the circle. She ended up one strikeout shy of the World Series record set by UCLA's Debbie Doom in a 13-inning win against Oklahoma State in 1982.

But she didn't get any run support in the World Series, as the Hokies lost both games in shutouts.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

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