The realization has hit for the OU softball seniors. This will be their final weeks of playing softball for the Sooners and head coach Patty Gasso.
But what Alyssa Brito, Kinzie Hansen and the rest of them want to make sure? This is not that final weekend.
They did their part in a 11-3 five-inning, run-rule dominant victory over Florida State on Thursday night in Game 1 of the two-of-three Super Regional at Love’s Field.
Obviously, OU and Florida State are no strangers to each other. And in previewing the matchup, it was very easy to see this could be a breakout weekend for the Sooners offense.
FSU’s pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries, and it’s a credit to the Seminoles that they’re still here. But against this OU lineup that is ready for one last ride? Not a good night.
The party was led by Brito. She was inches away from a home run in her first plate appearance, settling for a double.
There was no settling the next two plate appearances. The first a razor-sharp liner that barely got off the ground for a home run. The next one? A towering, no-doubter for a two-run bomb.
OU put pressure on FSU all night, scoring in all five innings. Included in that was a three-run third and five-run fourth.
Tiare Jennings got the scoring started with a solo home run in the bottom of the first. Hansen added a two-run homer of her own in the bottom of the fourth.
It was also a very needed night for Alynah Torres. Struggling at the plate, the senior drove in two runs.
The wave, though, kept coming.
It needed to because Kelly Maxwell did not have her best stuff. Yet it was still good enough, still fought hard enough to earn her 20 victory this season, going five innings with three hits, six walks in 118 pitches.
Kasidi Pickering, when it was all said and done, sent everybody home with a walk-off walk.
One win away
The Sooners (53-6) are now one win away from reaching yet another Women’s College World Series and getting a chance to for their fourth straight national championship. Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. Friday. Game 3, if necessary, would be Saturday at a time to be determined.
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