2018 Women's College World Series

Florida Play At The Plate Changed The Game, UCLA Roars Back At WCWS

Florida Play At The Plate Changed The Game, UCLA Roars Back At WCWS

A controversial call at the plate puts Florida into the loser's bracket.

Jun 2, 2018 by Chez Sievers
Florida Play At The Plate Changed The Game, UCLA Roars Back At WCWS

Florida and UCLA saw their second game of the Women's College World Series take a dramatic turn Friday night in Oklahoma City thanks to several controversial calls and the ejection of UF coach Tim Walton.

Boosted by a five-run fourth inning, the No. 3 seed Bruins rallied from four runs down to knock off the second-seeded Gators in a 6-5 win and send Florida to the loser's bracket.

The Gators' Amanda Lorenz led off the game, lacing a ball that tailed down and away from shortstop Brianna Perez. Kayli Kvistad followed by golfing a shin-high inside pitch thrown by Rachel Garcia down the right field line, advancing Lorenz to third. A wild pitch by Garcia rose above the glove of catcher Taylor Pack to score Lorenz from third. 

Sophia Reynoso launched an inside rise over the left-center fence to put the Gators ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning. 


The Florida offense continued to crush as Kvistad hit a moonshot to right center for a two-run bomb and a four-run lead.


In the top of the fourth, UF starting pitcher Kelly Barnhill faced a bases-loaded jam after UCLA's Kylee Perez reached base and Aaliyah Jordan was hit by a pitch on the elbow. Barnhill issued two walks that included walking in one run. 

The Bruins' Madeline Jelenicki skyed a foul ball down the left field wall that was tracked down by Reynoso. A close play at the plate unfolded when Jordan tagged up from third to score and Reynoso fired home to make the out. The umpire ruled Jordan safe at the plate but we may want to use instant replay for this one.

You make the call. Safe or out?


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With the bases loaded at the top of the fourth inning, UCLA's Taylor Pack unloaded on a Barnhill fastball to move the Bruins ahead by one run. 


Later, Bubba Nickles blasted a solo shot to left center to put UCLA up by 6-4 margin.


Florida responded in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot by Jordan Roberts to pull within one run. 

Walton was ejected from the game in the top of the seventh for questioning the strike zone and continuing to argue with the umpire crew. 

The Bruins won 6-5, with Garcia striking out 15 batters.

On another umpire tangent, Barnhill struck out 13 but her performance was not without controversy of its own. One illegal pitch was called and the next pitch was sent out of the yard by Pack. I would argue that nearly every pitch that Barnhill throws is illegal. 

You make the call. Illegal or no call?


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Now in the loser's bracket, Florida plays Oklahoma in an elimination game Saturday night at 7 ET. Meanwhile, UCLA advances to the WCWS semifinals on Sunday for the first time since 2010.