Florida grabs World Series lead

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY

Lauren Haeger had a home run and three RBIs against Michigan, but what she didn’t do Monday night could play a more important role in Florida’s championship hopes.

Haeger, the national player of the year, is also her team’s ace pitcher. After winning three games at the Women’s College World Series, she got a break from the mound Monday, and her teammates handled Michigan anyway.

Freshman Aleshia Ocasio and sophomore Delanie Gourley combined to beat the Wolverines 3-2 and put the Gators within one win of a repeat national title.

Haeger threw 160 pitches against Auburn on Sunday, so coach Tim Walton didn’t want to use her. He didn’t need to. Ocasio went six innings and gave up two runs to earn the win, and Gourley got the save for the Gators (59-6).

“First of all, I’m just so proud of them,” Haeger said. “They work so hard, just like I do. They deserve what they did tonight. Aleshia is amazing, Delanie is amazing, and I’ve told them the whole time that I’m going to need them to have my back this whole entire tournament.”

The teams will meet again tonight in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series, and the Wolverines likely will have to deal with a rested Haeger.

Michigan expected to see her Monday.

“We prepared for her,” Michigan coach Carol Hutchins said. “It was in the back of my mind — I knew it was possible they wouldn’t start her, but I don’t coach their team. So we just had to prepare, and ultimately, regardless of who is pitching, we just need to have good at-bats and see the ball. I thought we gave away a lot of at-bats. We swung at a lot of their pitches.”

Michigan (59-7) saw its 28-game win streak snapped. The Wolverines hadn’t lost since April 3.