NCAA WCWS Finals - Game 3 - for the prize

Once again, Tennessee Lady Vols vs Arizona Wildcats for the NCAA Championship. Once again, Abbott for UT and Mowatt for Arizona.

Aaaa! Break for the Wildcats as Lowe is called safe even though Horiuchi's foot was clearly on the bag! Two on, one out, bottom of the first. Strikeout for Abbott, and a pop-out to the catcher, so we are scoreless after one.

Callhan starts the second with a single. After Huff strikes out, Doepking lays a bunt down the third base line; Leles lets it roll and it stays fair! Two on, one out. Clay up - flies to Lowe in left center. Horiuchi strikes out.

Balko gets her first hit of the entire Series - she laces it into left for a two-out double. But Acton knocks the first pitch right back to Abbot. Scoreless still after two.

They just told us something I had probably known but not realized: this is the first time an SEC team has played for the championship. And with that, Posey gets a lead-off single. She easily steals second on a Mowatt changeup on 3-1 and is in scoring position with no outs. (Of course, yesterday they stranded 14...) Whoa. Chiles grounds to Fox at third who drops it! But Posey wasn't running, of course, so it's runners at first and second with no-one out. Kajitani tries for a sac bunt, but pops it up. 0-2 to her now. Pitch in the dirt, Kajitani lays off, but then swings at the next one and strikes out. Schutzler gets to 2-2 then pops up. Callahan has 11 home runs and 60 rbis over the season - this would be a nice spot for more. Quickly 3-0 as Mowatt's screwball is consistently missing the zone (unlike last night). 3-1, and then draws the walk. Bases loaded, two out ... shades of last night (avert!). Huff starts out 0-2 - but she's a .400 hitter with bases loaded this year. Fouled back, 1-2. Then Mowatt gets her looking.

Lowe singles and Arredondo moves her to second. Abbott deliberately walks Fox and Leles steps in - runner at second and one out. Lowe is a dangerous runner - she's in the 300-200-100 (hits, runs, steals). Leles walks, and the bases are loaded. Abbott and Mesa go at it, slowly getting to 2-2 and staying there as Mesa keeps fouling. Now it's full count ... and then Mesa hits it into right. Leles collides with Posey and is called out (ball dead). Nice break for UT, that - would have been one, might have been two. Bases still loaded with 2 outs for Bannister. And Abbott strikes out Bannister!

Still scoreless heading for the fourth.

Doepking draws a walk to start the inning. Quickly it's a full count to Clay, and Alexia stays alive through several foul balls before striking out. Horiuchi lays down the bunt and moves Doepking to second, but it's two out now. Ryan comes in to run, and Manuma comes in to hit. Both the Weeklys come out to talk to her at 1-1, not usual. But she grounds out to first.

After Abbott strikes out the side, Chiles starts off the fifth with a single. Kajitani pops a bunt attempt foul. Then pops up another and is out. UT has not been able to move runners very well the last couple of days! Fortunately, neither has Arizona... Schutzler slaps it into left; two on, one out for Callahan (career home run hitter in Lady Vol history - not that that history is enormously deep, but still...) She strikes out looking! Huff is the last chance. (Boy, the wind in Ok City is really picking up; Huff's hair is all over the place.) So are her foul balls ... she's lingering at 1-2. Now, 2-2. Strikes out swinging...

Dangerously fast Lowe beats out an infield hit. Arredondo quickly at 0-2, then rips one into right for a double. Runners at second and third, no out. Again Fox is intentionally walked, and this time Leles not only doesn't collide with Posey, but her drive goes deep and drives in Lowe and Arredondo both. Runners on the corners, no one out, and for the first time in the whole Series UT is behind. Mesa jacks one to deep right - a three-run homer. Five-nothing, Arizona. Yikes. Finally Bannister pops up to Horiuchi to stop the bleeding. They've seen Abbott a lot now, and I think they're starting to figure her out. 5 earned runs in one inning after none in the whole series up till now... Acton pops up, and Balko grounds out, but five runs have scored.

Two innings left. Looks like Arizona is going to repeat.

Doepking leads off with a walk. Clay gets a single. Once again UT has runners on board with no outs; let's see if they can score this time. Horiuchi flies out to left. But Posey drops one in and everybody's safe. Bases loaded (again) for India Chiles. Chiles lifts one to short left and Fox manages to catch it. Damn. Kajitani should be up, but Danielle Pieroni will hit for her - bases loaded, two out. She's hit .400 this year with the bases loaded... but not against Taryne Mowatt. Count goes full... and the strikeout.

Still five-nothing, Arizona.

Bottom of the sixth. One out, but that Caitlin Lowe beats out a grounder and is on base for the fourth time in four at bats ... Arredondo pops up. Fox isn't walked this time, and she singles to left. But Leles grounds out and the side is retired with no more runs (not that they need more).

Last chance for the Lady Vols. Schutzler goes down swinging. Callahan ditto. One more out and Arizona wins. Huff is UT's last chance.

I'll pause here to say that UT had a great season. Abbott and Chiles especially were brilliant, and the Weeklys have really put the program onto the right track. Arizona is just better.

Full count to Huff. And she walks. Doepking's up. And she grounds out to Leles.

Arizona goes back-to-back and wins the 2007 NCAA National Championship. They lost four games in the tournament, played eight games in seven days, but they found the way to win when they had to.

Well played, Wildcats. Well played.