OKLAHOMA CITY – Back in Oklahoma City and ready to compete in the Women’s College World Series for the ninth time in program history, No. 7 Florida State (53-8) will begin the 2016 WCWS against No. 15 Georgia (45-18) on Thursday, June 2 at 12:00 p.m. ET at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Noles and Bulldogs are joined on their half of the bracket by No. 14 UCLA (40-14-1) and No. 5 Auburn (54-10), while the other four teams competing for an NCAA National Championship includes No. 2 Michigan (51-5), No. 3 Oklahoma (52-7), No. 6 Alabama (51-12) and No. 10 LSU (50-16).
The Seminoles are one of the final eight teams in the NCAA postseason for the second time in the last three seasons, as FSU advanced to the WCWS in 2014. A total of 10 players and the entire coaching staff was a part of that team that played in OKC two seasons ago and this year’s Seminole squad is reaping the benefits of that experience.
“It is great to be back in OKC and be one of the final teams playing for a title,” said FSU head coach Lonni Alameda. “We started the season with a goal of playing for championship and knew that it would take a bunch of little goals along the way to make that possible. Playing a quality non-conference schedule, winning ACC series, winning the ACC regular season and then the tournament, getting a national seed, winning regionals, super regionals and getting to the World Series. We know it will be a fight and we know what we are capable of. It is time to trust all of the work and the process and each other and just go out and play Seminole softball.”
Florida State reached the WCWS after sweeping Utah in the Super Regional round in Tallahassee ono May 27-28. The Noles defeated the Utes, 6-2 and 3-0, to advance to OKC. The Seminoles have only given up three runs in the NCAA postseason, the lowest total of any team competing in the Women’s College World Series.
Georgia earned a spot at the WCWS after sweeping No. 1 Florida in the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional on May 26-27. The Bulldogs posted a 3-0 shutout in game one behind a three-hit, two RBI performance from Maeve McGuire at the plate and a complete-game, three-hit shutout from Chelsea Wilkinson in the circle. In game two, with UGA trailing 2-1 in the seventh inning, Kaylee Puailoa sent the Dawgs to OKC with a walk-off two-run home run to give Georgia a 3-2 victory.
The game between Florida State and Georgia will air on ESPN with Adam Amin and Amanda Scarborough on the call. A live radio stream will also be available on Seminoles.com with Robin Ahrberg and Ryann Day providing commentary. Live stats of the game will be accessible through NCAA.com.
If the Seminoles win on Thursday, they will play the winner of Auburn/UCLA at 7:00 p.m. ET on Friday, June 3. If FSU loses on Thursday, they will play the loser of Auburn/UCLA on Saturday, June 4 at 12:00 p.m.
Tickets for the 2016 Women’s College World Series are available now at NCAA.com/WCWS, and there is also a ticket exchange available to buy and sell tickets from other fans.
Follow Florida State softball on Twitter (@FSU_Softball) and Instagram (fsusoftball), and like our Facebook page (Facebook.com/FSUsoftball) to keep up to date with everything about Seminole softball.
