Oklahoma softball cruised to its 3rd consecutive nationwide championship after a 3-1 win over Florida State on Thursday night time in Recreation 2 of the Girls’s Faculty International Collection at USA Softball Corridor of Popularity Stadium in Oklahoma Town.
Each groups had been scoreless in the course of the first 3 innings, in large part because of the pitching duel between Oklahoma’s Alex Storako and Florida State’s Kathryn Sandercock, a 2023 All-American First Workforce variety.
Storako, a Michigan switch and 2021 Giant Ten Pitcher of the 12 months, began for the Sooners instead of Jordy Bahl, who led the reigning nationwide champions to a 5-0 win over the Seminoles on Wednesday.
The previous Wolverine had some further assist from the Oklahoma protection to stay Florida State down, together with an outstanding catch from outfielder Jayda Coleman that robbed the Seminoles of a house run.
Storako allowed Florida State to attain simplest as soon as, with a house run from Mack Leonard within the fourth inning, which put the Seminoles at the board first.
Oklahoma temporarily spoke back with a couple of runs of its personal.
Sophomore infielder Cydney Sanders hit the Sooners’ first homer of the night time within the 5th inning, tying the sport at 1-1. Oklahoma temporarily became the tie right into a lead when redshirt senior infielder Grace Lyons hit a house run at the subsequent at-bat, giving Oklahoma a 2-1 lead. Lyons’ homer additionally came about to be Oklahoma’s five hundredth run of the season.
Bahl, who didn’t surrender an earned run within the International Collection, in the end entered the sport because the Sooners’ pitcher within the 5th inning.
“Simply close it down; do not give them the rest,” Bahl mentioned about her ideas getting into the pitching circle to ESPN’s Holly Rowe.
Storako allowed the only run on 3 hits to earn the win.
With Oklahoma’s victory, it turns into simplest the second one group in NCAA softball historical past to win a countrywide name in 3 consecutive years. UCLA achieved the similar feat in 1988-1990.
The Sooners may also start the 2023-2024 season on a 53-game win streak, the longest win streak in NCAA softball historical past.
