Mitchell Hits Two Homers as Texas Dominates Florida 3-0 in WCWS Opener
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Joley Mitchell hit two home runs, and Teagan Kavan surrendered only two hits as the sixth-seeded Texas team defeated the third-seeded Florida squad with a score of 3-0 on Thursday, kicking off their participation in the Women’s College World Series.
Mitchell hit two home runs against Florida's star pitcher Keagan Rothrock during the second and sixth innings, making him the first player from Texas to achieve this feat. at the World Series .
Pretty much starting from scratch for me," Mitchell stated, mentioning he did not encounter Rothrock in the previous year's WCWS match between their teams. "I understood I had to be punctual, and that was basically what dominated my mind.
Texas (52-11) is set to go up against top-seeded Oklahoma (51-7) on Saturday with a chance to advance to the semifinals. Over the last three years, Oklahoma has claimed victory over Texas in the championship series twice. This year marks their first as members of the Southeastern Conference after both teams departed from the Big 12.
Florida (48-16) will face No. 7 seed Tennessee (45-16) in an elimination match on Friday.
During the World Series games held at Devon Park, Kavan recorded her third shutout within a span of two years.
She mentioned, 'It's the spot to be at.' There isn’t anywhere else I’d prefer to be. Many individuals would sacrifice much just to be in this position. Hence, I feel blessed to be here so I can put forth my best effort for my teammates and secure some victories for our team.'
Consecutive homers by Mitchell and Katie Stewart in the sixth inning concluded Rothrock’s game. She was taken out after delivering 105 pitches. Of the five hits she conceded, three were home runs.
The initial homer hit by Mitchell went 250 feet towards left field.
The Gators failed to get a hit during the first three innings against Kavan, who boosted his record to 25-5. In the fourth inning, Florida managed to score their first runs as Korbe Otis struck an RBI single past Mitchell’s mitt at first base.
I mean, she's a skilled pitcher," Otis stated. "Every player we'll encounter at the College World Series will also be a strong pitcher. She simply executed a couple of better throws than what we could manage to hit, hence she performed admirably.
In the fifth inning, Texas took an early lead of 1-0, yet they faced challenges against Rothrock, who allowed base-runners at both first and second positions with only two outs remaining. However, she managed to strike out Reese Atwood looking to conclude the frame.
Currently, the Gators, having advanced to the semifinals of the previous year’s double-elimination tournament, are competing to keep their season alive.
“It’s clearly disappointing to lose the initial match in the College World Series, but observing how my team handles this situation reveals all I need to understand about the athletes under my guidance,” stated Florida’s coach Tim Walton. “These players approach things with seriousness, engage fiercely, put in considerable effort, and derive pleasure from their endeavors. Thus, regardless of our performance tomorrow, today serves as an invaluable lesson.”
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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports