How Oklahoma, Florida State reached the WCWS championship
William Harris Follow our live updates of the Women's College World Series championship series. (Photo: USA Today)
Nicole Auerbach, Jayna Bardahl and more
Championship Series schedule
Oklahoma vs. Florida State
Wednesday
Game 1, 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Thursday
Game 2, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Friday
Game 3 (if necessary), 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Advertisement
Oklahoma wins in extras, will face FSU in WCWS final
The Oklahoma Sooners took down Stanford 4-2 in extra innings Monday afternoon to secure a spot in the 2023 Women’s College World Series final. Here’s what you need to know:
- Oklahoma’s Tiare Jennings broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth on a two-run double off NiJaree Canady. Stanford intentionally walked Jayda Coleman on the prior at-bat to put runners on the corners with two outs.
- Two-time first-team All-American Jordy Bahl pitched four scoreless innings in relief with six strikeouts to close out the victory.
- The Sooners extended their Division I record winning streak to 51 straight and improve to 59-1 on the season.
- Oklahoma advances to its fourth straight WCWS final and will play Florida State in the best-of-three championship series beginning Wednesday.
GO FURTHER
Oklahoma holds off Stanford in extras to reach WCWS final, will face Florida State
Florida State chasing first championship
The Seminoles return to the championship series for the second time in three seasons, trying to win their first national title since 2018.
Lonni Alameda's squad is not going to be afraid of the moment. Lots of experience on this roster.
Noles defeat Vols to advance to championship
Florida State beats Tennessee 5-1 and earns a trip to the championship series against Oklahoma.
That's Kat Sandercock's 18th save. It'll be the 1-seed versus the 3-seed starting Wednesday.
Mudge nearly had it
What an (almost) steal at home from Kaley Mudge. She was originally called safe but then the call was overturned.
Sandercock looking to end it for Noles
Through two innings, Kat Sandercock has thrown 25 pitches with 21 strikes and three strikeouts.
She looks poised to end this one strong for FSU as we enter the seventh inning.
Advertisement
Thoughts on eventual Oklahoma-Florida State series
This is the championship matchup I’d been hoping to see all along. The Seminoles typically rely on small ball, pitching and defense to win games — they have 18 stolen bases in the NCAA tournament alone, including four against Tennessee on Monday — but they’ve also shown they’re capable of hitting it out of the park.
Four of their five runs against the Lady Vols came via home run. And so did all four of the runs they scored against Oklahoma when FSU traveled to Norman back in March. The Sooners won that game, 5-4.
So, as much as I love the bunting, slapping, stealing and manufacturing of runs, that’s not the only way FSU can beat you. That is the most compelling part of this matchup to me. Well, that and getting to see fifth-year senior ace Kathryn Sandercock finish out her FSU career in the championship series. It’s so fitting.
Florida State extends lead
Hallie Wacaser adds two more with a two-run shot over the left field wall. The team that typically wins with small ball has relied on the long ball tonight for four of its five runs.
With Kat Sandercock on the mound, I feel very, very good about a four-run FSU lead. Methinks the Nole faithful here feel the same.
Sandercock comes on to close for Noles
Here comes Kat Sandercock to close out the game.
The FSU ace has nine outs to get to secure a championship series berth.
Noles take 3-1 lead on Kerr RBI
Jahni Kerr's RBI single marks the first run of the night not scored off a home run.
The Seminoles now lead 3-1.
Short turnaround for Rogers
Rogers threw 136 pitches last night and has now entered the game with the Lady Vols' season on the brink.
Advertisement
In comes Ashley Rogers for the Vols
Ashley Rogers is coming in to pitch for Tennessee with one out in the top of the fifth.
Florida State has players on first and second.
All even at 65 pitches through 5
Entering the fifth inning, FSU and Tennessee are even with 65 pitches each. The largest difference is players left on base.
Florida State has left one while Tennessee has left five without scoring.
Illegal pitches a focus
The ESPN broadcast is (rightly) harping on the illegal pitches.
It certainly seems like the way Makenna Reid has pitched all year and only now, in the biggest game of the season, is it being called this way.
Lonni Alameda on Reid's illegal pitches
Reid escapes third inning
Makenna Reid escaped the third inning after four illegal pitches. She's back warming up for the bottom of the fourth now as Florida State leads 2-1.
Advertisement
Less than ideal for Reid
That's the fourth illegal pitch this inning from Makenna Reid.
This is not ideal, obviously, but even if she gets her footwork down pat again, this is clearly going to be in the back of her mind the rest of this outing. ... I honestly think you've got to take her out now.
Noles bring Makenna Reid to the mound
Now a pitching change for Florida State, as Makenna Reid comes in to pitch. Mack Leonard stays in the lineup as the designated player.
Vols make a pitching change
With the season on the line and Gottshall already having given up three extra-base hits (including two homers), Tennessee makes a pitching change.
Karlyn Pickens enters the game with one out in the top of the third.
Load more updates