College Softball World Series 2015: Michigan vs. Florida Game 3 Score and Recap

The Florida Gators repeated as national champions Wednesday night with a 4-1 win over the Michigan Wolverines in a winner-take-all Game 3 at the 2015 Women's College World Series.

In her second straight night on the mound, Florida's do-it-all star, Lauren Haeger, allowed just five hits and one run on a complete-game performance. She also jump-started the Gators' bats with a first-inning RBI single that helped pave the way for a 4-0 lead through two innings.

Michigan pitcher Haylie Wagner had dominated at the WCWS prior to Wednesday, but she stumbled out of the gates to spot Florida the early lead. She allowed four earned runs on just 1.1 innings pitched before getting the hook, and Megan Betsa's following five innings of scoreless work weren't enough.

It all resulted in the Gators celebrating on the Oklahoma City diamond for a second straight June, as the team's official Twitter captured:   

Haeger put the proper finishing touches on a historic slew of performances in the championship series. After knocking in all three of Florida's runs in a Game 1 win and throwing six innings on four hits in a Game 2 loss, it was only fitting that she dominated both at the plate and on the mound with a second straight national title on the line.

In news that shocked absolutely nobody, Haeger took home the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award, causing ESPN's Skip Bayless to laud her all-around game:

The comparisons to Babe Ruth have been all over the place for Haeger, but her performances at the WCWS might call for her own nickname, as Scott Carter of GatorZone.com noted:

The team that scored in the first inning won in both Games 1 and 2, so the beginning of Wednesday's Game 3 proved to be an early tipping point. Neither team had given up a lead in the series entering the third and final meeting.

And with that in mind, the Gators weren't about to let Michigan get the early momentum again with a second straight national title on the line.

After Haeger retired the top of Michigan's order, Florida's bats got to work. Beginning with a hit-by-pitch, the Gators mounted a first-inning rally that took shape with Haeger's RBI single to put them up 1-0.

Soon after, Taylor Schwarz knocked a single into left field that scored two more runners and gave Florida a 3-0 lead. Michigan's Wagner got out of that inning with no further damage but allowed a crushing RBI double from Kelsey Stewart in the second to put Florida up 4-0.

As told by Chris Harry of GatorZone.com, Wagner had been nearly perfect in Oklahoma City prior to the early Gators surge:

While the Gators pressured Michigan with every opportunity and looked intent on finishing the job, the Wolverines struggled to find their groove. Haeger shut down Michigan's lineup early on, throwing a no-hitter through four innings and looking unflappable with a four-run advantage.

But alas, NCAA Softball had to post the following tweet:

Of course, Haeger's no-hitter couldn't possibly last after that aforementioned jinx. In fact, it only seemed to wake up the Michigan bats.

With just eight innings left in their season, the Wolverines pounced on Haeger like few opponents have been able to do all year. Three fifth-inning singles helped score Michigan's first run of the game and put some pressure on Haeger for the first time all game.

Michigan posed a similar charge in the sixth, when two more runners got on to set up another game-tying scenario. But for the third time, Haeger pulled it out, as Pat Dooley of GatorSports.com observed:

With one last opportunity to notch some insurance runs, Florida got a runner in scoring position and set up one last chance for Haeger to show off her two-way skills. Unfortunately for the Gators, though, Michigan wisely pitched around her, as Alligator Army reluctantly reported:

Perhaps things didn't end in a storybook manner at the plate for Haeger. But she had no such troubles taking care of things on the mound in the final inning and securing the program's second straight national championship.

Dominant pitching has spoiled Florida head coach Tim Walton over the last two years. Hannah Rogers put the team on her back during last year's national title run, and Haeger just did the same to secure the repeat.

There's no telling if Walton and the Gators have a third ace pitcher who can take the reins for 2015-16. But if they do, a three-peat won't be out of the cards.