Game recap: Oklahoma softball sweeps Florida State to complete three-peat in WCWS
No. 3 Florida State softball needed two consecutive victories to win the 2023 NCAA Softball Women's College World Series. Scroll down or click here for the latest updates.
The Seminoles' last test is the toughest of the season, as they take on No. 1 Oklahoma (60-1) at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium. Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series will take place Thursday night.
FSU (58-10) was in a similar position in 2021 and ended up taking the first game from the Sooners.
FSU softball holds onto its ace: Decision to not play Kathryn Sandercock was 'part of plan' for Florida State softball vs. Oklahoma
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10:04 p.m. Oklahoma softball defeats Florida State in Game 2 to sweep WCWS championship series
Oklahoma softball is the National Champion again. The No. 1 Sooners defeated No. 3 Florida State 3-1 Thursday in Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series to clinch a three-peat.
It is also the seventh national title since 2000 for the Sooners, the fifth in the last seven years and the sixth in the last 10.
FSU also lost to Oklahoma in the championship series in 2021 and there was no season in 2020 due to COVID.
A true dynasty.
"First off, congratulations to OU. They're just firing on all cylinders. It's pretty cool," FSU head coach Lonni Alameda said. "I think a lot of people were texting me throughout, like a lot of people don't like that one team's winning all the time. I get a little vibe sometimes of, like, take down the machine.
"We gave our best for that, but they're really good. Oklahoma does a really good job. They do a good job in all cylinders from recruiting to developing to meeting the NIL, development of program and team. It's really an honor to compete against the highest level. We talked about that today.
"It can be frustrating at times or it can raise our game. It's raising our game. It's making me a better coach. It was just really cool. Hats off to them."
For FSU, it marked the end of a great season that saw it win the ACC regular season and postseason tournament.
It came after a season where FSU saw its season end prematurely against Mississippi State in the Tallahassee Regional.
"I think this team, we learned a lot from supers or regionals last year getting cut really early on by Mississippi State," FSU senior Mack Leonard said. "We took times to re-watch the games together as a squad. It was really hard."
It was the first time since March 12-14 that the Seminoles lost back-to-back games this season. It was also the first loss for Kathryn Sandercock since March 12 (Oklahoma State).
Cynthia Sanders and Grace Lyons hit back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the fifth inning to give the Sooners the lead for good.
The homers came in response to a solo shot from Mack Leonard in the bottom of the fourth inning to give FSU its first lead and run of the series.
Sandercock pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. She struck out three and walked one in her final appearance as a Seminole.
Alex Storako started and went four innings for the Sooners, allowing one run on three hits. Jordy Bahl, who tossed a shutout in Game 1, pitched the final three innings for the save.
She struck out two and did not allow a hit.
FSU finished the season with 58 wins - the most since the 2018 season when the Seminoles won the national championship. The Seminoles have eclipsed 50 wins seven times since 2014.
9:45 p.m. Florida State down to final three outs
Kalei Harding retired on a popout to the catcher behind home plate for the first out.
Michaela Edenfield grounds out to the third base for the second out.
Devyn Flaherty went down swinging for the third out.
Three outs remain in the FSU season, unless they can score at least twice in the bottom of the seventh.
End 6th | OU 3, FSU 1
9:39 p.m. Oklahoma adds on insurance run
Haley Lee beat out an infield single on a throw by shortstop Josie Muffley. Muffley had to range to her right and make the throw from the back of the infield.
Alyssa Brito then got a single on a blooper which dropped in front of centerfielder Jahni Kerr.
Sophia Nugent bunted both runners into scoring position with one out.
Alynah Torres scored pinch-runner Jordy Bahl from third base on a groundout to Muffley in the hole.
Bahl has scored two runs this series, FSU just one.
Mid 6th | OU 5, FSU 1
9:26 p.m. Jordy Bahl enters for OU, delivers 1-2-3 inning
After shutting down FSU’s offense Wednesday, OU ace Jordy Bahl entered in the fifth inning with a 2-1 lead.
She retired Josie Muffley on a soft popout back to the pitcher and Kaley Mudge flew out to center field for the second out.
Jahni Kerr flew out to right field for the third and final out.
The Seminoles are down to their final six out and the Sooners’ have started making better contact with Kathryn Sandercock’s pitches. This game is in a nervous state for FSU.
End 5th | OU 2, FSU 1
9:15 p.m. Oklahoma gets back-to-back homers from Cydney Sanders and Grace Lyons to take lead
Cydney Sanders and Grace Lyons led off the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back solo home runs off Kathryn Sandercock to give the Sooners a 2-1 lead.
It was the ninth homer of the season for both the seven and eight-hole hitters for OU.
Jayda Coleman sent Hallie Wacaser to the right field warning track for a long fly ball out for the second out.
All of a sudden, FSU went from leading to down to its final nine outs in the season if it cannot complete the comeback.
Mid 5th | OU 2, FSU 1
9:01 p.m. Mack Leonard scores first run for FSU in WCWS
Mack Leonard almost drove in the first two runs of the game Wednesday on a ball down the line. She was not denied Thursday, hitting a solo home run down the right-field line, sneaking it over the wall for the first FSU run of the WCWS.
The run gave the Seminoles a 1-0 lead with ace Kathryn Sandercock dominating in the circle.
Will that be enough for Kat?
End 4th | FSU 1, OU 0
8:51 p.m. Kathryn Sandercock with another quick 1-2-3 inning
Alyssa Brito grounded out to third baseman Kalei Harding for the first out of the top of the fourth inning.
Kinzie Hansen grounded out to shortstop Josie Muffley for the second out.
Kathryn Sandercock collected her third strikeout of the game, retiring Jocelyn Erickson swinging on a 2-2 count to end the fourth inning.
Four of her last six outs have been groundball outs.
Mid 4th | OU 0, FSU 0
Gallery for Thursday's game:
8:40 p.m. Jayda Coleman robs Kalei Harding on highlight reel home run rob
Jayda Coleman pulled her best Kaley Mudge impression, robbing Kalei Harding of a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning.
Coleman leaped for the ball and made the grab over the wall as she collided with it.
Josie Muffley led the inning off with a four-pitch walk. Kaley Mudge grounded out into a fielder’s choice at third base for the first out. Jahni Kerr with a one-out single past the diving shortstop.
Michaela Edenfield grounded out on a fielder’s choice to third base to end the inning.
End 3rd | OU 0, FSU 0
8:30 p.m. Kathryn Sandercock, defense work out of bases loaded, zero out jam
Kathryn Sandercock loaded the bases with no outs but was able to work out of the jam.
Jayda Coleman grounded out to first baseman Mack Leonard, who fired home to Michaela Edenfield for the first out.
Tiare Jennings grounded out to shortstop Josie Muffley who fired home for the second out.
Sandercock got Haley Lee to fly out to left fielder Kaley Mudge for the final out of the Houdini act.
Cynthia Sanders walked on four pitches to lead off the top of the third. Grace Lyons twice attempted to bunt her to second but fouled both attempts off. On the third pitch, she lined a long single off the wall.
Rylie Boone dropped down a perfect bunt which third baseman Kalei Harding tried to let roll foul, but it died on the infield to load the bases with no outs.
Mid 3rd | FSU 0, OU 0
8:15 p.m. Alex Storako breezes through second inning
After a long first inning, Alex Storako had a stronger second inning, retiring the Seminoles down in order on eight pitches.
She got Mack Leonard to pop out to shortstop for the first out and Hallie Wacaser flew out to left field for the second out.
Katie Dack struck out swinging on three pitches to retire the order.
FSU needs to get something going offensively. Kathryn Sandercock can throw a perfect game, as evidenced by her outing against South Carolina, but she needs run support to have a chance to win.
End 2nd | FSU 0, OU 0
8:06 p.m. Double play helps Kathryn Sandercock work past leadoff hit
Alyssa Brito hit a slow roller to shortstop Josie Muffley and beat out the throw for an infield single to lead off the top of the second inning.
Brito attempted to steal on a 2-2 pitch to Kinzie Hansen but Hansen popped out to Kathryn Sandercock, who easily fired to first base for an easy double play.
Jocelyn Erickson struck out to short to end the second inning for the Sooners.
As expected, Sandercock is attacking the OU lineup and has performed well in the first two innings.
The fun thing to watch is the adjustments she’ll make the second time through the order.
Mid 2nd | FSU 0, OU 0
7:57 p.m. FSU could not capitalize after getting first two runners on
Kaley Mudge led off with a single to left field and Jahni Kerr reached on a throwing error. But the Seminoles were sent down in order and failed to capitalize with a big opportunity.
Kalei Harding lined out to third, Michaela Edenfield grounded back to the pitcher, which did put two runners in scoring position.
Devyn Flaherty grounded out to second on the first pitch.
End 1st | FSU 0, OU 0
7:45 p.m. Quick first inning for Kathryn Sandercock, Seminoles
Then pitches, three outs for FSU ace Kathryn Sandercock as she got Jayda Coleman to fly out to left, Tiare Jennings to pop out to second base for the second out and struck out Haley Lee on a full count to end the frame.
The Seminoles had just two hits last night and need to get the offense rolling against Alex Storako, who has a 1.12 ERA but is the No. 3 pitcher behind Jordy Bahil and Nicole May for the Sooners.
Mid 1st | FSU 0, OU 0
7:31 p.m. FSU softball catcher Michaela Edenfield has message in eye makeup for Oklahoma pitcher
Michaela Edenfield is known on social media for her razzle-dazzle eye makeup.
Her theme before Game 2 of the Women's College World Series championship series came from her opponent.
The Florida State softball catcher has a following on TikTok for her makeup tutorials. She bedazzles her eyes for each game with colorful and gem-studded looks.
7:16 p.m. Seminoles lineup; Kathryn Sandercock in circle vs. Alex Storako
FSU is the home team for Game 2 and will bat second with its season on the line. Here's a look at the starting lineup with ace Kathryn Sandercock in the circle.
Alex Storako is pitching for OU.
1. Kaley Mudge, LF
2. Jahni Kerr, RF
3. Kalei Harding, 3B
4. Michaela Edenfield, C
5. Devyn Flaherty, 2B
6. Mack Leonard, 1B
7. Hallie Wacaser, RF
8. Katie Dack, DP
9. Josie Muffley, SS
Kathryn Sandercock, P
Sooners
1. Jayda Coleman, CF
2. Tiare Jennings, 2B
3. Haley Lee, DP
4. Alyssa Brito, 3B
5. Kinzie Hansen, C
6. Jocelyn Erickson, RF
7. Cydney Sanders, 1B
8. Grace Lyons, SS
9. Rylie Boone, LF
Alex Storako, RHP
7:11 p.m. FSU-OU warming up
About 26 minutes to game time, there is a different vibe today with both teams taking the field for their regular fielding practice pre-game.
Yesterday's first pitch was delayed just over an hour following a weather delay. Today feels more like a championship atmosphere with the crowd filling out.
5:30 p.m. Florida State softball needs to respond to adversity on brink of WCWS elimination
It’s been three months since the last time Florida State softball lost back-to-back games. After Wednesday night's loss, the No. 3 Seminoles will need to avoid the mini-losing streak again to avoid seeing its season end.
The odds are against the Seminoles, something FSU head coach Lonni Alameda admitted following the game. “Oklahoma is 60-1. There's a lot of teams they've beat,” Alameda said.
Where is Florida State softball vs. Oklahoma?
USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, Oklahoma City, Okla.
What time is FSU softball game on today?
7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8
What channel is FSU vs. OU softball on?
ESPN (Channel 206 on DirecTV, Channel 140 on Dish)
Where can I watch FSU vs. Oklahoma softball on streaming?
ESPN+ ($9.99 per month), WatchESPN (cable subscription needed) and the ESPN app, YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial), fuboTV (7-day free trial)
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU softball score vs. Oklahoma, WCWS final Game 2 recap
