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Around the Bases: Feb. 14, 2025

Reitzheadshotby:Nicole Reitz•02/14/25•

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Screenshot 2025-02-14 at 4.05.36 PM
Courtesy of Virginia Tech Athletics

Around the Bases is Softball America’s free daily recap of the day’s biggest games. We’ll highlight four marquee matches and run toward the plate with other notable moments.

No. 4 UCLA 6, No. 9 Oklahoma State 4

After going 2-2 in the opening weekend, the Cowgirls came out with a sense of urgency. Just two batters into the matchup, OSU was already on the board. When Megan Delgadillo reached on an infield single that tested UCLA’s defense, Claire Timm tripled to right center for an RBI. Karli Godwin followed up with a single through the right side to score Timm. 

But the hiccups in the top of the first didn’t phase UCLA. The Bruins bats came out with a vengeance and quickly took back the lead. Savannah Pola, Megan Grant, and Kaniya Bragg all doubled for RBIs, pulling Rylee Crandall from the mound. 

Ruby Meylan calmed down the momentum for a moment until Aleena Garcia ripped the first solo home run of her career to center field to extend the lead and open up floodgates once more for UCLA. Grant added a solo shot of her own to add two more.

Kaitlyn Terry was a star in the circle for UCLA, going five innings with five strikeouts. Taylor Tinsley was put in for relief in the sixth inning, which allowed OSU to capitalize. Rosie Davis ripped a two-run blast to left field and put the game within two runs, but the Cowgirls failed to produce any more runs. 

No. 20 Liberty 7, No. 12 Alabama 6

A late RBI rally in the sixth inning allowed Liberty to surge and take the lead to defeat Alabama.

Solid defense and aggressiveness at the plate worked well for Liberty right out of the gate. In an early scoring attack, Savannah Woodard singled to left field for an RBI, and Savanah Whatley tripled to left center for another. 

Paige Bachman started strong in the circle, but after throwing nine straight balls, Alabama found its footing. Alexis Pupillo’s RBI advanced Brooke Ellestad to third and after an error from the Flames, the Crimson Tide were back in the game. Salen Hawkins tied up the game with a single and with bases loaded, a two-RBI single from Larissa Preuitt took the lead.

Jocelyn Briski shrugged off the two runs from Liberty and kept the Flames at bay until a fight occurred within Liberty’s lineup late in the sixth inning. RBIs from Alyssa Henault and Whatley tied up the game with no outs. Catelyn Riley entered the circle for Alabama, and Rachel Roupe was able to grab the lead with a single. 

Alabama came one run closer to tying in the seventh, but with two outs, Elena Escobar held down the Tide and was awarded the win. 

No.1 Florida 9, No. 16 Duke 0

It should come as no surprise that Taylor Shumaker led the Gators on offense during this run-rule victory. The freshman got on board first, sending her eighth home run of the season to left field. She later doubled to right center to tack on two RBIs. 

Jocelyn Erickson kept in rolling and singled to add an RBI herself. With no outs and bases loaded, Dani Drogumuller took place of Cassidy Curd in the circle for Duke, and Shumaker made magic once again. After crushing another RBI, she and Kendra Falby advanced on wild pitches from Drogumuller, which allowed Rylee Holtorf to score. Kenleigh Cahalan added a two-run single, which put the game in run-rule territory. 

Keagan Rothrock was lights out on the mound for the Gators, finishing a solid five innings with five strikeouts. 

No. 2 Texas 2, No. 8 Texas Tech 1 

In a tight pitcher’s duel between Teagan Kavan and NiJaree Canady tied at one in the ninth inning, it was Victoria Hunter who drove in the walk-off run with a single to first base.

With only one hit each, the offense was silent until Texas Tech finally got the bats moving in the fourth inning. Freshman Anya German drove in the lone run with a single. The Longhorns then came to life in the fifth inning when Mia Scott blooped one down the left field line to score Ashton Maloney and evened the score. From there, the duel continued until Texas put runners on second and third, allowing Hunter to succeed and fend off their first loss of the season.

Kavan had one stellar outing and produced the most strikeouts of any Texas pitcher since 2013. She ended the night with 18 strikeouts and just four hits. 

Canady had a similar night with eleven strikeouts and eight hits. 

Players of the Day

Emma Lemley threw her second consecutive perfect game and became Virginia Tech’s first pitcher to do so. She struck out 16 of the 21 batters she faced to defeat Northwestern 3-0. The Hokies have yet to yield a run this season.

Lexi Kobryn tossed a complete game shutout for Villanova to hand FAU its first loss of the season.

Maddia Groff was electric for Omaha against Wisconsin. The Mavericks ace struck out 12 batters in a three-hit shutout.

Jordy Bahl had herself a day. She tossed five shutout innings with eight strikeouts. Bahl also hit three home runs in the Cornhuskers’ doubleheader.

Ohio State earned its first ranked win under Kirin Kumar with a win over Missouri. Kami Kortokrax, Sami Bewick and Kaitlyn Farley combined for six hits and five RBIs.

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