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Gators Reach Softball World Series

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A Tribune wire report

Published: May 25, 2008

GAINESVILLE - Freshman Megan Bush led off the top of the ninth with her 13th homer of the season, and Aja Paculba added a run-scoring single to give top-ranked Florida a 4-2 victory against California on Saturday in an NCAA Super Regional softball game.

The win propels the Gators (67-3) into the Women's College World Series for the first time. Florida, which became only the fourth team in NCAA softball history to record 67 wins in a season, will play 16th-ranked Louisiana-Lafayette on Thursday in Oklahoma City. The other teams with 67 wins are Arizona in 1998 (67-4), Illinois-Chicago in 1999 (67-17) and Tennessee in 2005 (67-15).

"There was a little bit of weight lifted off my shoulders," Bush said of her homer. "I've been in a slump the past couple of games, and the only way I know how to get out of a slump is to go up there and try my best. It is such a great way to end the series."

Stacey Nelson (45-3) continued her strong postseason as she allowed three hits, walked two and struck out nine before a home playoff record crowd of 2,082. She has struck out 39 batters in NCAA Tournament play, including 19 in the two Super Regional games. She has allowed two earned runs in 412/3 innings of NCAA play.

"It means a lot to go to the World Series," Nelson said. "I remember three years ago we weren't even able to get out of a regional. In three years, this program has been able to do a lot. Looking back and seeing the steps we've taken, it feels really good to be at this point."

Baseball

MIAMI 5, NORTH CAROLINA STATE 2: Jemile Weeks hit a three-run homer to lead top-seeded Miami (46-8) into the ACC final today against Virginia in Jacksonville.

FLORIDA STATE 9, NORTH CAROLINA 6: ACC Player of the Year Buster Posey - named one of 50 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award earlier in the day - missed his first collegiate start, but delivered a pinch-hit two-run single to cap a six-run rally that lifted Florida State (48-10) past North Carolina (46-12) in the ACC tourney in Jacksonville.

LOUISVILLE 6, CINCINNATI 3: Fourth-seeded Louisville (41-19) rallied for five runs in the final three innings to beat second-seeded Cincinnati (39-20) at Bright House Field in Clearwater for its first Big East title.

Men's Lacrosse

NCAA SEMIFINALS: Kevin Huntley scored four goals in Johns Hopkins' 10-9 win over top-seeded Duke, putting the Blue Jays (11-5) in Monday's title game against Syracuse (15-2). The Orange beat Virginia 12-11 when Mike Leveille scored his fifth goal of the game 2:17 into the second OT.

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