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2023 WCWS -- Day 2

Utah looks likely to be the second team going home, as it trails Oklahoma State 8-0 after two innings... No further scoring, as the Cowgirls win 8-0 via run-rule (five innings)...

The first team that will be going home from the WCWS is Alabama, which managed only one hit in a 2-0 loss to Stanford. Along with allowing no runs and limiting the Crimson Tide to one hit, the Cardinal combination of Alana Vawter (5 1/3 innings) and NiJaree Canady (1 2/3 innings) did not walk anyone.  

Utah and Washington finally underway after being delayed from last night. UW is the home team. During the Pac 12 season, the Huskies took two of three from the Utes in Seattle, with all three games being close... T2, with one out, Utah gets one of the strangest doubles you'll ever see, as Haley Denning's bunt-chopper through the middle of the infield bounces over pitcher and by two infielders; once Denning arrives at first and sees no one covering second, she takes off (can't find video of this play)... Kendall Lundberg follows with a "conventional" double on a sharp flare toward the right-field line, scoring Denning, 1-0 Utes... Grounder for second out... After walk, nice catch by left-fielder on foul near stands ends the threat...B2, two-out walk, followed by Rylee Holtorf homer (video), puts UW up 2-1... Throwing error on grounder to SS prolongs the inning, Huskies with runner on first... Stolen base (after official review reverses call of "out") gives Washington runner in scoring position... Pop-up ends inning... T4: Utah threatening with runners on first and second with one out... K-swinging on off-speed pitch for second out... Up to Ellessa Bonstrom to try to drive in a run for the Utes... HBP to load bases... Weak pop to 1B-person to end Utah threat... B4, Huskies tack on another run (single, steal, single) to take 3-1 lead... B6, UW looking to blow game open with bases loaded and only one out... Sac-fly to left makes it 4-1 Huskies... Grounder for fielder's choice at second ends Washington threat... Uneventful T7 for Utah, as Washington prevails 4-1...  Because of last night's weather-related delays, Utah will have to play again tonight, against Oklahoma State in an elimination game...

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