Times wires
Monday, June 6, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY — Krista Donnenwirth hit two of Arizona State's four homers and drove in four runs, and the Sun Devils routed Florida 14-4 on Monday night in the opening game of the Women's College World Series final.
The Gators gave credit to Arizona State but lashed out at home plate umpire Chris Drumm, accusing her of inconsistent balls and strikes and a blown call in the first inning.
"I'm looking forward to playing ASU without her behind the plate," Kelsey Bruder said. "I'm going to try to be as nice as possible, but I hope that whoever appoints her re-evaluates her abilities.
"I'm not making any excuses. ASU absolutely kicked our butts and they deserved to win, but it was really hard adjusting to the inconsistent calls."
In the first, Drumm called UF's Tiffany DeFelice back to the box after she was hit on the forearm by a pitch. DeFelice flied out, and the Gators ended up stranding a runner at third.
"I don't know if bone sounds like bat, but it hit me square in the arm," DeFelice said.
"I don't think I have to defend her. I think she called the game as she saw it," NCAA director of championships Sharon Cessna said.
The Sun Devils (59-6) scored six with two outs in the second.
Florida (56-12) got late home runs from Bruder, Cheyenne Coyle and Michelle Moultrie to avoid the most lopsided loss ever in the championship round.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is at 8 tonight (ESPN2), with Game 3, if necessary, at 8 Wednesday.
FSU baseball routs Tide, will host super region
TALLAHASSEE — Scott Sitz pitched four scoreless innings and Florida State beat Alabama 11-1 to clinch the NCAA Tallahassee Region and advance to host a super region for the fourth straight year.
The game was completed after being halted in the sixth inning Sunday night because of rain and lightning with the Seminoles leading 8-1.
When the game resumed, Sitz took over. FSU (45-17) will face Texas A&M or Arizona, whose Monday night College Station Region game was rained out and rescheduled for 1:30 today.
The eight best-of-three super regions are Friday through Monday; winners advance to the World Series that begins June 18 in Omaha, Neb.
Other region highlights: In Austin, host Texas used six pitchers to beat Kent State 5-0 and advance to a super region matchup. The Longhorns (47-16) will host Arizona State. … In Columbia, closer Matt Price got the final eight outs and host South Carolina beat Stetson 8-2 to advance to a super region. The Gamecocks (48-14) will host UConn, which won 14-1 at Clemson to win its region. The Huskies (45-18-1) were led by third baseman Ryan Fuller, who went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and five RBIs. … In Fort Worth, Texas, Dallas Baptist (42-18) scored eight in the first inning and beat Oral Roberts 11-9 to advance to its first super region. … Late Sunday in Fullerton, Calif., Stanford (35-20) beat Illinois 14-2 to advance to a super region matchup at North Carolina.