Oklahoma’s Quest for Championship Series Berth Continues Tuesday

A three-hour rain delay before the start of the Women's College World Series semifinal between Oklahoma and Florida guaranteed the teams would play only one game Monday rather than potentially two.

Under normal conditions, the if-necessary game would have been staged 30 minutes later if the once-beaten Gators defeated the unbeaten Sooners.

However, it was predetermined that the "if" game would be pushed back to Tuesday.

With that in mind, OU head coach Patty Gasso opted to give Sooners ace lefthander Kelly Maxwell an extra day of rest and took her chances with the rest of a staff that ranked second nationally in shutouts this season (22) and tied for fourth in team ERA (1.81).

The No. 4-seeded Gators (54-14) pounced at the opportunity and were sparked by three home runs to post a 9-3 victory over the No. 2-seeded Sooners (56-7) to force a Tuesday elimination showdown at Devon Field.

Game 12 between Florida and Oklahoma will be played Tuesday, June 4 at 1 p.m. Central time on ESPN

The winner of that game advances to the championship series against the Texas-Stanford winner.

"Tough game for us," Gasso said. "Florida hit the ball really well today. Credit them that. We left 10 runners in scoring position, so that's tough when you look at the box scores. I don't think this was our best game by any means. The beauty of this is that we get another opportunity to make it right."

Florida tagged OU starter Nicole May for six hits, four runs (all earned) in 2.0 innings, while reliever Kierston Deal surrendered four hits, and five runs (all earned) in 3.2 innings.

"We've got a staff," Gasso explained of sitting Maxwell. "I have to show the staff that I believe in them. I know what we need. Kelly cannot take us all the way. I have to get these pitchers on the field. I've got to get them on the mound. I've got to get them the experience or we aren't going anywhere."

On the plus side for the Sooners, four-time All-American Tiare Jennings hit her 10th home run in WCWS history (second all-time) and the 97th of her career (third on the all-time NCAA list).

"We're just resetting," Jennings said of Tuesday's approach. "We know a game plan. We didn't stick with it today. But the good thing about this is we have another day. We know who they're going to throw, what's going to happen. It's already written. We're just going to go out there and focus on what we can do."

UP NEXT

OU and Florida square off in an elimination game on Tuesday with the winner earning a berth in the WCWS Championship Series. The first pitch time will be determined following Monday's Texas vs. Stanford semifinal. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN with Beth Mowins, Jessica Mendoza and Michele Smith on the call. All games can also be heard via 107.7 FM The Franchise in Oklahoma or nationwide on The Varsity Network with Chris Plank and alumna DJ Sanchez on the call.

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