Abbott tosses no-hitter, sets strike out record; UW, Northwestern, Arizona win
Northwestern Blanks Arizona State 2-0
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Monica Abbott threw her 23rd career no-hitter and struck out 16 to break the single-season record and help Tennessee open the Women's College World Series with a 2-0 victory over Texas A&M on Thursday night.
The 6-foot-3 Abbott (47-3) broke the strikeout record of 663 set by Southern Mississippi's Courtney Blades in 2000. Abbott finished the game with 665.
Earlier, Washington's Danielle Lawrie threw the first no-hitter in four years in the World Series, leading the Huskies to a 3-1 victory over DePaul. Also, Northwestern beat Arizona State 2-0, and defending champion Arizona beat Baylor 2-1 in nine innings.
On Friday in the double-elimination tournament, Tennessee will face Arizona, and Washington will play Northwestern.
India Chiles and Shannon Doepking had RBI singles for Tennessee (60-6) in the seventh inning off Amanda Scarborough (26-9).
Texas A&M (46-13) loaded the bases with one out in the first, but Abbott got the next two batters on a fielder's choice and strikeout to end the inning. Texas A&M had only one other baserunner, in the fifth when Scarborough led off with a walk.
Abbott, honored Tuesday night as the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, holds NCAA career records for wins (186 against only 32 losses), strikeouts (2,381), shutouts (109) and appearances (248).
Washington 3, DePaul 1
Lawrie (30-11), a member of the Canadian national team, struck out nine and became the first pitcher in world series history to allow a run in a no-hitter.
It was the second no-hitter of Lawrie's college career, following a perfect game against Utah Valley State on Feb. 26, 2006. The last no-hitter in the World Series was by UCLA's Keira Goerl in the 2003 championship game.
After Lawrie's throwing error allowed the Blue Demons to score first, Washington's Dena Tyson hit a two-run home run to left field off Tracie Adix (21-3) with two outs in the third to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. It was Tyson's 18th home run.
Ashlyn Watson added her second home run of the season off Adix in the fourth.
Washington improved to 41-17, and DePaul dropped to 46-12.
Northwestern 2, Arizona St. 0
Tracy Williams homered for Northwestern, and Eileen Canney (32-9) threw a one-hitter while avoiding NCAA batting leader Kaitlin Cochran.
Katie Logan had an RBI double in the third, and Williams added her 15th home run.
Canney walked Cochran, who leads the nation with a .495 batting average, in all three of her plate appearances and the rest of the Sun Devils (54-16) could manage only Michelle Smith's bunt single in the sixth inning.
Canney, who struck out 11, won her 96th game at Northwestern (51-11) to move within one of the school record set by Lisa Ishikawa from 1984-87.
Arizona State's Katie Burkhart (35-12) threw a complete game, allowing five hits while striking out eight.
Arizona 2, Baylor 1, 9 innings
Kristie Fox homered on the first pitch of the ninth inning to push top-seeded Arizona (45-12-1) past a Baylor team making its first appearance at the World Series.
Fox's 15th home run of the season went just over the extended arm of Baylor left fielder Tiffany Wesley and inside the foul pole to send the Wildcats into a celebration at home plate.
Fox also scored the Wildcats' other run after doubling to lead off the fourth inning. She moved to third on a single by Jenae Leles and scored on Laine Roth's groundout.
Eighth-seeded Baylor (50-15) came right back to tie it when Kirsten Shortridge scored on the second of consecutive passed balls by Arizona catcher Callista Balko in the top of the fifth.
Arizona's Taryne Mowatt (37-10) struck out 15 in a two-hitter to outduel Lisa Ferguson (25-8).
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
