Durham Regional: Utah vs. Morgan State softball set time to resume play
Bad weather has been wreaking havoc across the United States this weekend and it’s been having a huge impact on several softball games in this year’s NCAA Softball Tournament. In the top of the seventh inning, the Utah softball Twitter page announced their game vs. Morgan State was in a delay due to weather.
That was at 3:45 p.m. EST. And over an hour later, the page updated fans that the tarp was still on the field in Durham, North Carolina. But finally, after several different delays, the start time has been announced for 7 p.m. EST.
Utah ended up winning on Saturday night against Morgan State, by a score of 1-0. They will advance to play South Carolina in another elimination game. That one was slated to begin at 7:48 p.m. EST on Saturday night, but once again the tarp came out.
So, the Utes will have to deal with more delays yet again on Saturday night. At least they got their first game wrapped up. Shortly after that update, the Utah Twitter page let everyone know that the elimination game against South Carolina will not be played on Saturday night.
South Carolina and Utah faced off in the opening game of action on Friday as the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the Regional. The Gamecocks won that game 2-1 behind a big outing on the mound from Alana Vawter.
However, South Carolina would go on to lose to Duke on Saturday in an 8-0 blowout as it managed only two hits. That sets up a do-or-die scenario between the Gamecocks and Utes.
Sunday’s game between the Blue Devils and the winner of Saturday’s contest was originally scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. with another game scheduled for 3:30 p.m. if necessary. We’ll have to wait and see whether those start times get pushed back or the game between South Carolina and Utah simply starts earlier.
South Carolina falls against Duke on Saturday
Duke earned a run-rule 8-0 win to advance to the Durham Regional final.
It didn’t take long for South Carolina (35-23, 8-16 SEC) to record its first hit of the afternoon. Denver Bryant led off the game with a groundout, but Riley Blampied hit a double to left-center field.
That would be the last hit Duke starter Jala Wright allowed until the sixth inning. Wright, who was unanimously selected as the ACC Pitcher of the Year, delivered her second strong performance in as many days. She threw six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine batters.
On3’s Chandler Vessels also contributed to this article.