Ellington

10:55 P.M.

Lawrie had a little trouble, allowing a walk and a few runners on, but that was it. She even got Flores looking at strike three, something I think Lawrie badly wanted after Flores belted three home runs off of her yesterday.

Game, set, match, and the Huskies move on to Oklahoma City.

Down 1-0 in this three-game series, the Huskies really showed some grit today. I think a lot of people thought the Sooners were more than capable of winning the second game, especially with the way they played yesterday.

The Huskies were embarrassed yesterday, no doubt about it. Anytime your ace gives up five home runs in the most important series of the season thus far, at your place, it's got to be a little concerning.

But they said they had to move on. And did they ever.

Lawrie was dominant all day. She gave up zero runs in two games, pulled herself out of jams, and was vocal and supportive all night long. I'm not the usual softball beat writer here at the Daily, and it was my first time watching Lawrie for consecutive days at this level of play.

I can tell you this much: The way she bounced back today, especially after giving up five home runs yesterday, was really impressive. You know she doesn't want her UW career to end now, and it showed. She can do what very few collegiate athletes can do, and that is buckle down and lead your team when they need you the most. She came to play today, no doubt about it.

And the Huskies overall just came ready to play. They really figured out Ricketts after last night and finally got some offense going, something they've had a hard time doing this postseason.

Wright is the offensive MVP today, her three-run blast in the first inning of game three really sealing the deal, especially the way Lawrie was pitching. The Huskies needed someone to step up offensively, and Wright was there.

The effort was 110-percent today for the Huskies. Whether it was Salling beating out single after single, or Wright sneaking past the Sooner defense to take second base, the Huskies were on top of it today.

Oklahoma gave a great effort, but the Huskies got their bats going just as Lawrie felt comfortable, and there aren't many teams that can beat the UW when they are at their best.

Ricketts, though she ends up losing the last two games here, has a bright future. The 6'2'' lefty has a great combination of fastballs and change-ups, and the Sooners are set for a while in the pitching department.

It's on to Oklahoma City again, and the Huskies will begin play at the Women's College World Series next Thursday.

Thanks for following the blog, and look for the game story on Monday.

10:40 P.M.

No damage done by the Huskies.

Three more outs from Lawrie and it's on to Oklahoma City.

Shouldn't be tough: Lawrie will face the 8,9, and 1 batters.

Top of the seventh inning.

Washington 4, Oklahoma

10:35 P.M.

This baby's almost over.

Lawrie picked up strikeouts 12, 13, and 14, making it look way too easy.

Huskies will look for some insurance in the bottom frame, but I don't think they will need it.

The rain has started to fall on this sell-out crowd of 1,694 but I guarantee they could care less. Three more outs, and these Huskies are goin' back to Oklahoma City.

Bottom of the sixth.

Washington 4, Oklahoma 0.

10:25 P.M.

Lawrie or Wright, not sure who should be the player of this game.

Pohlman grounded to second for the first out, and then Ricketts walked Lawrie.

Wright hit into a fielder's choice, but then showed she has quite the softball IQ for a freshman.

She ran through first base, but never came back to the based, thus the play wasn't dead yet. She noticed that the Sooners weren't exactly paying close attention, so she sprinted for second. Safe by a mile.

That brought the crowd to its feet as Amanda Fitzsimmons came on to pinch run for Wright.

Turned out to be extremely important for the Huskies. Williams sat on a Ricketts change-up, drove a base it into left field, and Fitzsimmons came around to score after Anderson misplayed it in left field.

Just great, alert play by the Huskies. They are on top of things tonight, and are showing some pure toughness out here. Exactly what you'd expect from the defending national champs.

Top of the sixth inning now.

Washington 4, Oklahoma 0.

10:15 P.M.

Hey, she's got to show she can get out of a jam, right?

Lawrie finally ran into some trouble in the top of the fifth. Jones led off, dropping a single right in front of a diving Williams in left field.

Then, Brianna Turang, pinch-hitting for Dobbs, beat out a Lawrie throw to first.

Sooners had runners at first and second, no out.

Huey laid down a nice bunt, moving the runners over to second and third with one out.

That brought up Flores, who could have tied the game with a home run. Instead, she was walked again, and that brought up Shults with the bases chucked.

She worked the count to 2-0, but Lawrie came storming back to make it 2-2. Everyone in the stands - minus the Sooner fans -- thought the next pitch was a strike, but the umpire thought otherwise.

It didn't matter, as Lawrie blew the next pitch-- strike three --past Shults, who could only watch.

Two outs.

Remember, this was the meat of Oklahoma's lineup Lawrie was going up against, with runners in scoring position.

Next up was Vandever, who smacked one deep to right field as the crowd held its breath. This could have been a grand salami, putting the Sooners up one.

Instead, the Pohlman tracked it down just before the warning track, falling forwards as she barely hung on to the ever-so-important third out, ending the inning.

Phew.

Lawrie gave up two more hits -- four for the game -- but escaped a tough, tough situation facing some of the Big-12's best bats.

Nice to know she can do it all.

Bottom of the fifth now, with Pohlman leading off.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

9:55 P.M.

Some missed opportunities in the bottom of the fourth for the Huskies.

Fagaly walked to lead things off, and then Smith hit a base hit just beyond the reach of Flores at second.

That meant runners at first and second with no outs.

Wagner, pinch running for Fagaly, was leading off of second too much couldn't make it back to the base when Vandever threw it up to second. So Vandever decided to run straight to third, with no real chance of making it.

That is, unless, Oklahoma decided to throw it at her helmet, which is in fact what they did.

The ball bounced off Wagner's helmet and into foul territory, as Wagner slid into third safely while Smith moved to second.

McWherter, who was looking to bunt with runners at first and second -- now they were at second and third -- struck out for the first out.

With just one out, Fleischman hit a grounder to short, but Long fired a perfect laser to Vandever at home, just in time to catch a sliding Wagner for the second out. Perfect execution there from Oklahoma, who's defense has been suspect all day.

Then, Salling popped out to first base, ending a great-turned-disappointing bottom frame for the Huskies.

They really could have sealed the deal there, but will have to rely on Lawrie to get nine more outs.

I like their chances.

Top of the fifth now.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

9:45 P.M.

The Huskies couldn't put up any more runs in the bottom of the third, as Lawrie reached on an error at shortstop by Long, but no other Huskies could reach base. Wright almost hit another one out, but got just under it this time and flied out to center.

It was more of the same from Lawrie in the top of the fourth. She picked up her ninth strikeout, this time to Vandever, for the first out.

Nix is the only Sooner to have figured out Lawrie today, as the right fielder dropped a base hit -- Oklahoma's second this game -- into right field, just in front of Pohlman.

It didn't matter, as Ricketts flew out to Williams in left field and Lawrie -- you guessed it -- struck out Anderson, her tenth of the game.

It was smelling like burning rubber here at press row for about five minutes. I'd like to think it's from Lawrie's fastball.......but more likely from a laptop battery.

Bottom of the fourth now.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

9:25 P.M.

Lawrie is on a mission to take her team back to the World Series, and it doesn't look like Oklahoma can really do anything about.

Dobbs looked at strike three, and then Lawrie did the same thing to Huey, who was befuddled by the UW ace as she looked at strike three.

After that one, Lawrie bounced up and gave a confidence yelp back at Wright, her freshman catcher. She is totally into the game and is in her own zone. This is the Lawrie we're used to seeing, and I feel fortunate to witness this. It's too bad that Husky fans won't be able to watch this ace in a Husky uniform next year.

After Flores was walked again -- we can all agree that Lawrie has pretty much decided that walking her is a good thing -- Shults swung at strike three to end the inning.

Lawrie already has eight strikeouts and she's not going to stop.

Bottom of the third, with Pohlman leading off.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

9:15 P.M.

Not much damage done in the bottom frame. Smith hit a one-hopper right back at Ricketts, and McWherter was barely out at first for the second out.

Fleischman slapped a base hit -- the UW's third of the game already -- up the middle to reach first with two out, but Salling was fooled by another Ricketts change-up to end the inning.

The rain hasn't fallen yet. It's pretty fortunate, especially considering it was a straight downpour for the better part of this morning. Dusk is quickly turning to night here, and these newly installed lights -- the exact reason the Huskies are able to host this Super Regional -- are looking great.

Top of the third inning now.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

9:10 P.M.

This stadium is buzzing. I can't tell if Lawrie is feeding off of the fans, or the fans are feeding off of her. It's both, I think.

Lawrie gave up a stand-up double to Nix to lead off, but that was the last time the Sooners would do anything offensively.

Ricketts? Strike three.

Anderson? Strike three.

Jones? 3-2 pitch, and watched the Lawrie heat fly by her for strike three.

Too easy for Lawrie.

Bottom of the second now.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

8:55 P.M.

And with one swing of Shawna Wright's bat, the Huskies mine as well book their tickets to Oklahoma City.

Salling had some deja vu, bunting and sliding safe into first again to lead things off. Pohlman struck out, but then Lawrie blasted a line drive that smacked the NCAA Regionals sign on the left field wall. Five feet higher, and Lawrie would have had her 16th home run of the season.

Salling reached third, and Lawrie wound up on first.

That brought up Wright, the hero of Washington's Regional-clinching win over North Carolina last week.

She took a Ricketts pitch deep over the left field wall, and there was no doubt the moment that sweet sound of ball-on-bat rang throughout this stadium. The crowd knew it, the Sooners knew it, and the Huskies knew it.

That's Wright's 12th home run of the season, and the most important one of the freshman's short but impressive career.

Williams and Fagaly struck out to end the inning, but the damage was done.

With the way Lawrie's pitching, I don't see Oklahoma coming back.

But you never know. No one would have predicted five Sooner home runs yesterday, and that is exactly what they did.

Top of the second now.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

8:40 P.M.

If Lawrie keeps this going, the Huskies are going to the World Series if they can put something on the board tonight.

She got Huey to pop out, walked Flores ... again .... , then proceeded to strike out Shults and Vandever.

Top of the order for the Huskies in the bottom frame, with Pohlman leading things off.

Washington 0, Oklahoma 0.

8:30 P.M.

And Lawrie just threw out the first pitch of game three. The Huskies will be the home team this game, and will be in their normal third-base dugout.

Sooners are the visitors and are in the first base dugout.

Winner moves on to the WCWS in Oklahoma City.

For those of you with a TV, this game is televised on ESPN2, I believe.

Here we go.

Game-two stats:

Lawrie was dominant. She gave up just two hits, no runs, and struck out 10. She lowered her ERA back down to 1.00. This was her 39th win of the season.

Looked like the strategy going in was to avoid giving Flores anything after she belted three homers last night. It worked: Flores was 0-1 with two walks.

Ricketts wasn't as good as yesterday, but she still hung in there until the sixth, when she gave up those two big runs. I forgot to mention Michelle Gascoigne came in the seventh, most likely to rest Ricketts for game three.

Ricketts gave up six hits, three runs, and struck out five. She is now 32-9 on the year.

Taylor Smith led the Huskies with two RBI. The designated player for the night, Smith was 2-3 and raised her batting average to .279.

Pohlman, Wagner, and Williams all scored for the UW.

20 minutes until game three gets started here.

8:00 P.M.

Lawrie got Sallis to ground out, made Katie Harris (pinch hitting for Huey) pop out to Fagaly, then faced her nemesis -- Flores -- but didn't walk her this time. Flores grounded out to Stuart, who made a quick throw across the diamond to complete the two-hitter for Lawrie.

Annnnnnnd we're going to do this all over again, folks. The lines crew is already out re-chalking the lines while fans are taking a bathroom break and grabbing a hot chocolate.

It is starting to get real cold here but those few showers earlier is the only precipitation we've seen all night. The temperature is about 53-degrees, but the forecast is calling for only a 10-20-percent chance of rain.

Game time is scheduled for about 8:30 P.M. Check back here around then for the game three thread. Should be a classic battle, with Lawrie and Ricketts pitching their second consecutive games tonight.

I'll have game-two stats in just a bit.

7:52 P.M.

No damage done in the top of the seventh. Fleischman was out on a bunt, Salling looked at strike three, and Shults bobbled a Pohlman grounder but Flores was there to cover first to get the third out.

Lawrie needs three outs and we're headed to a huge game three.

Evan Sallis is pinch hitting for Jones to lead off the bottom half.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

7:45 P.M.

Lawrie is back to being Lawrie.

Nix crushed a single to right field to lead off, but after that, it was all Danielle.

The UW ace got Ricketts swinging, then struck out Anderson for her tenth strikeout today.

Jones popped out to Salling to end the inning.

Top of the seventh now and the Huskies can pad their lead here.

Raindrops are starting to fall, though. It's getting colder and colder. I'll keep you updated as we end here and most likely begin game three.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

Top of the seventh.

7:35 P.M.

And the Huskies strike again.

In the longest frame today, the UW got hot and put up two more runs, extending its lead to three.

Pohlman got things started with some great hustle, beating out a routine ground ball to short.

Then, Lawrie crushed one right past short and into center field. Huey made a nice cutoff, so Pohlman stayed at second. Maggie Wagner came to pinch run for Lawrie.

Wright had teammates at first and second with no out, and knocked a base hit to left field, the UW's sixth of the game.

Bases loaded, no out. Fans on their feet.

Williams couldn't extend the lead, as she popped out to second for the first out. But Fagaly was up next, and had a great eye at the plate, eventually drawing a walk and scoring the UW's second run.

They weren't done yet. Smith hit a grounder to short, and it was just soft enough so that Karolyne Long had to make the play at second base to get the second out. The Huskies picked up another run, this time it was Wagner who scored from third.

Stuart came on to bat for the first time tonight, but grounded out to third to end the inning.

That may be all Lawrie needs. She needs six more outs and we're playing one more.

Bottom of the sixth now.

Washington 3, Oklahoma 0.

7:15 P.M.

Looks like the game plan for Lawrie was to give Flores nothing to hit. And I mean nothing.

Lawrie struck out Dobbs, got Huey to fly out to second, then walked Flores on four straight pitches.

Then, the Sooners started a two-out rally. Shults, who is leading the team with a .373 batting average, knocked a base hit up the middle for Oklahoma's first hit of the game.

But Vandever couldn't tie up the game, as she flied out to right to end the inning.

Top of the sixth inning now, Pohlman to lead off.

Washington 1, Oklahoma 0.

7:05 P.M.

Huskies aren't getting any offense, and I feel like they really need to because Oklahoma is bound to put a run up any second here.

McWherter popped out to second, but then Fleischman beat out a soft grounder that Flores had trouble with. No error, just great hustle from Fleischman.

In what must have been at least three or four hit-and-run attempts, the Huskies kept fouling off pitches from Ricketts and thus the hit-and-run never worked.

Salling struck out, and then as Pohlman was up to bat, Fleischman was called out for stealing second too early.

Showers have held off so far. It's getting cold, but no rain, which is great.

Sooners up now in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dobbs will lead off, then it's back to the top of the order.

Washington 1, Oklahoma 0.

6:55 P.M.

Lawrie is matching Ricketts with some firepower of her own. She got Nix to pop out to Fleischman - who was all over the place this inning - for the first out.

Then, she walked Ricketts on some questionable calls by the umpire. The fans here are really getting on the home plate umpire tonight, much more than I have seen all postseason. They're feelin' the urgency just like the players are.

Lawrie nearly escaped the inning after Fleischman, Salling, and Fagaly just missed the 4-6-3 double play.

It didn't matter, as Lawrie got Jones to pop out to Fleischman, who ended up being apart of all three outs this inning.

Top of the fifth inning now.

Washington 1, Oklahoma 0.

6:45 P.M.

Another quick inning for Ricketts, who is really in a groove and hasn't been rattled after giving up that first run in the second inning.

She got Wright to ground out to short, struck out Williams, hit Fagaly, but recovered well and got Smith on a soft grounder right back at the freshman ace.

Feels like the UW needs to add a few more before they can begin to feel comfortable, especially after the Sooners showed what they are capable of last night, putting up six runs.

Bottom of the fourth now.

Washington 1, Oklahoma 0.

6:40 P.M.

Another solid inning for Lawrie, although she threw a lot of pitches this inning.

She struck out Krystle Huey, then allowed Flores to reach base again, this time by way of a Lawrie pitch that barely caught Flores on the hands. Lawrie is really pitching inside to Flores, probably wanting to back her off the plate a bit and avoid anything like what happened last night.

But Lawrie didn't lose any composure, getting Shults to pop out to Salling and striking out Vandever after the Sooner catcher fouled off about five pitches.

Top of the fourth, Smith up to bat.

Washington 1, Oklahoma 0.

6:28 P.M.

Ricketts looking good as well.

The freshman got Salling and Pohlman to ground out, then made it look easy against Lawrie, getting her to look at two strikes before Lawrie whiffed at strike three.

Quick inning for Ricketts.

Bottom of the third inning now.

Washington 1, Oklahoma 0.

6:20 P.M.

Lawrie looking good.

The senior started off badly, hitting Ricketts on an 0-2 pitch.

But then Lawrie struck out Haley Anderson, got Chana'e Jones to ground out to short (nice play made by Salling), and got Dobbs swinging for Lawrie's fifth strikeout.

UW president Mark Emmert is in the building. Emmert, who was named as president of the NCAA last month, just took his seat and has to like the score so far.

Top of the third inning now, Salling up to bat.

Washington 1, Oklahoma 0.

6:10 P.M.

That was fast.

Williams led off the second with a drive to right field. Nix misplayed the ball and attempted a diving catch. No Top-10 play for Nix, as the ball went under her glove and all the way to right field wall. Williams ended up at third standing up.

With the crowd riled up, Hooch Fagaly came up to bat. Fagaly made great contact, but hit it right at Dobbs at third. Dobbs misplayed the ball and couldn't make the catch, but still managed to throw Fagaly out at first.

But Taylor Smith wouldn't miss this scoring opportunity. After completely whiffing on a change-up from Ricketts, Smith crushed one into the gap in left field, scoring Williams, putting the Huskies up, and bringing this sellout crowd to its feet.

Alyson McWherter, batting today in place of Morgan Stuart, bunted foul when she had two strikes, and Amanda Fleischman grounded out to third to end the inning.

Now Lawrie has to hold the Sooners and the Huskies can win this game.

Washington 1, Oklahoma 0.

Bottom of the second inning now.

6:00 P.M.

Danielle Lawrie is no longer untouchable.

It seemed like she was back to her dominant self after she struck out Krystle Huey. But then came up Flores, who Lawrie is now scared to pitch to. The senior walked Flores -- who had three home runs yesterday off Lawrie -- on five pitches, the majority of those inside and nearly hitting Flores.

Then Lawrie struck out Jessica Shults on a nice changeup, and Wright nearly made it a strike em' out throw em' out but Flores narrowly missed the tag and was safe at second with two outs.

Lawrie then walked Lindsey Vandever, who's batting .348 this year. That brought up Haley Nix, who worked a 0-2 count to a full count, but Lawrie got her looking at strike three to escape the inning.

So Lawrie ended up with three strikeouts, but two batters reached base.

The Huskies really need to put some runs on the board if they want to extend their season tonight.

Top of the second now, with Niki Williams leading off for the Huskies.

Washington 0, Oklahoma 0.

5:45 P.M.

Jenn Salling is an athlete .

The junior bunted to lead off the game, beating the high throw from Sooner third baseman Dani Dobbs as she slid into first base.

Then, she stole second but realized she was going to be thrown out. So Salling -- now in the classic pickle -- ran back to first, then back to second, and as she was going back to first, she pulled a Barry Sanders and went under the glove of second baseman Amber Flores.

She made it back to second and slid in safely, drawing a huge ovation from this pro-Husky crowd.

There were no outs with a runner in scoring position, but the Huskies couldn't make anything out of it. Kimi Pohlman struck out, Lawrie grounded out to third, and Shawna Wright lined out to short.

So much for more offensive production...

Sooners up to bat now.

Washington 0, Oklahoma 0.

Bottom of the first inning.

5:20 P.M.

SEATTLE, WA - Welcome to the potential season-finale here at Husky Softball Stadium, with Husky fans here hoping it won't be.

Oklahoma surprised just about everyone here last night in its 6-1 thrashing of the Huskies and ace Danielle Lawrie.

If the Sooners win today, they'll move on to the College World Series in Oklahoma City.

But don't expect the Huskies to go down easily. Though they were embarassed out of the stadium yesterday, the defending national champions have the talent and veteran leadership to win two games here tonight.

If the UW wins, we'll play one more 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game to decide who gets to move on and who will end their season here today.

Sooner freshman Keilani Ricketts didn't look like a girl in her first postseason last night, as the lefty went all seven innings, giving up just two hits and one run in perhaps the most dominant pitching performance the Huskies have seen this postseason.

Lawrie will need to be better -- much better -- today if the Huskies figure to have any chance at winning. She was downright bad yesterday, giving up five home runs in a performance that she'd like to forget, and indicated yesterday at the post game press conference that she was already looking foward to getting back on the mound.

Expect her to be back to her normal self, especially considering that this could be senior's last collegiate game.

Though it's rained all day, it hasn't been wet for the past couple of hours and let's hope it stays that way. There is a heavy cloud cover and slight wind and the forecast is calling for 60-percent chance of precipitation.

Oklahoma will be the designated "home" team today, and will be in the third base dugout. The 50 or so Sooner faithful are right above the dugout. The players are in white uniforms and red pants.

The Huskies are the "visiting" team and will be in the first base dugout. They are in all Husky purple today.

Keep it right here for updates after every inning.

Game is scheduled to begin in 10 minutes at 5:30 p.m.