Softball: LSU beats Michigan 3-2, will play UCLA

OKLAHOMA CITY “”mdash; Sara Fitzgerald scored on a pair of
throwing errors in the bottom of the 13th inning Thursday, giving
LSU a 3-2 victory over Michigan in the first round of the NCAA
Women’s College World Series. LSU will play defending
champion UCLA today at noon. Fitzgerald singled for LSU with two
outs and moved to second when Camille Harris beat out an infield
single to shortstop Jessica Merchant. Fitzgerald moved to third
when Merchant’s throw got away from first baseman Jennifer
Olds and scored when catcher Monica Schock couldn’t handle
right fielder Courtney Betley’s throw home. Fitzgerald had
stopped at third before Betley made her throw. Grace Leutele hit a
two-run home run to left field in the top of the 12th inning to
give Michigan (54-12) a 2-0 lead. The Tigers (55-10) came back to
tie the game on an RBI single by Leigh Ann Danos and a passed ball
by Schock. “We answer back all the time," LSU pitcher Kristin
Schmidt said at a press conference after the game. “Sometimes
someone else scores and we always have a way to answer right back.
That’s the epitome of our team. That’s what we do
best.” Schmidt threw all 13 innings for LSU. Michigan will
play Stanford in the loser’s bracket on Saturday at 9
a.m.

OKLAHOMA 6, WASHINGTON 2: Oklahoma scored four
runs in the first inning and took a lead it would never relinquish.
Oklahoma’s Mariee Mena drove in two runs on a single with two
outs in the first inning to give the Sooners a 4-1 lead. Oklahoma
pitcher Kami Keiter pitched all seven innings for the Sooners,
striking out five. Oklahoma will play California today in the
winner’s bracket at 4 p.m. Washington will play Florida State
on Saturday at 1 p.m.

CALIFORNIA 4, FLORIDA STATE 2: A Jessica
Pamanian two-run triple in the third inning led California to a win
Thursday night. Cal’s Kristina Thorson pitched all seven
innings while striking out 12.

From Bruin staff and wire reports, with reports from The
Associated Press.