2021 Women’s College World Series: Results, scores, updates

The Women’s College World Series began Thursday afternoon! Let’s break down what’s happened thus far.

Oklahoma State 3, Georgia 2

Follow JMU’s stunning upset over #1 Oklahoma, Georgia had an opportunity to strike with another upset. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they were taken down by Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls won 3-2 and put UGA on the brink of elimination with their victory. It proved to be a hard-fought game, as both teams were scoreless for a bit. But in the bottom of the third, Chyenne Factor struck with a two-run bomb. UGA wouldn’t get on the board until the sixth when Sara Mosley hit a single that scored a run off an obstruction ruling. Oklahoma State followed that with an RBI single by Alysen Febrey, which propped them up 3-1. Although Georgia made it 3-2 in the 7th, this after Ellie Armistead hit a double, they were soon downed by the Cowgirls. Georgia will have their work cut out for them in the loser’s bracket against the vaunted Sooners.

Alabama 5, Arizona 1

With softball legend and Arizona alum Jennie Finch on hand, Alabama took it to the other UofA, winning 5-1 in their first game of the WCWS. The Crimson Tide put a run on the board in the first, scoring off a fielding error made in the outfield. They would score again in the third, as slugger Bailey Hemphill launched one over the left-field fence. More runs would later be backed on in the sixth, as Maddie Morgan hit an RBI double. Then, Abby Doerr smoked a two-run homer that further padded the lead. Montana Fouts was excellent as usual in the circle, meanwhile. Fouts struck out 16 of the 22 batters she faced, allowed two hits, and just one run with no walks. ‘Bama will play highly-touted UCLA on Friday night.

Alabama 6, UCLA 0

From here:

Montana Fouts made history on Friday night!

The Alabama Crimson Tide hurler dazzled versus UCLA, tossing a perfect game to down the Bruins in a 6-0 result. Fouts’ perfect game was the first at the Women’s College World Series since the year 2000. So, those who have traveled to OKC have not only seen James Madison’s miracle run play out, but they also saw a perfecto be tossed as well.

Fouts put Bruin hitters in a tizzy all night long. En route to her perfect game, she struck out 14 of the 21 batters she faced. She induced five groundouts and only two flyouts all evening. This performance comes a night after Fouts tossed a two-hit complete game, with a career-high 16 strikeouts against Arizona. Needless to say, Montana has been a force to be reckoned with in the first two games of Alabama’s run in the WCWS.

What does she have for an encore? We’ll find out the next time she sees the circle. Which could well be on Sunday afternoon. The Tide awaits the events of Saturday’s action, in which the losers bracket will play itself out.

Oklahoma 8, Georgia 0

Georgia couldn’t quite handle Oklahoma’s gaudy offense on Saturday afternoon. The Dawgs fell to the Sooners, who eliminated them from the Women’s College World Series with the result. UGA couldn’t scrape a run past them, and fell victim to an onslaught by the top-seeded Sooners. Georgia was stymied, committing two errors on the afternoon, and picked up just three hits at the plate. Giselle Juarez struck out 10 Georgia batters, exactly 50 percent of the 20 batters she faced on the day. Needless to say, OU is still a powerhouse and should be treated as such.