The Fightin’ Patty Gassos evened the score against the upset-minded ‘Noles.
On Wednesday evening, the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (55-4) beat the 10-seeded Florida State Seminoles (49-12-1), 6-2 in Game 2 of the 2021 Women’s College World Series national championship series. With the win, OU forces a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday.
#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/9a7KFofZZg
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 10, 2021
Redshirt senior Giselle ‘G’ Juarez got the start in the circle for the Sooners on Wednesday, and in 7.0 innings, the righty looked strong once again as she gave up just four hits while striking out six FSU batters on 106 total pitches.
In the bottom of the first inning, Florida State senior Elizabeth Mason recorded a two-run homer to center to put the Seminoles on top of Oklahoma, 2-0.
In the top of the third, senior Jana Johns led things off with a solo shot to left, giving the Sooners their first run of the game and cutting FSU’s advantage to 2-1.
launches No. 1️⃣5️⃣8️⃣!!
158 home runs on the year by the #Sooners ties the NCAA single-season HR record
T3 | OU 1, FSU 2 | ESPN pic.twitter.com/6GKkw4AlW1
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 9, 2021
In the top of the sixth, NFCA Freshman of the Year Tiare Jennings got things started after reaching first base on a throwing error. Then USA Softball Player of the Year Jocelyn Alo paid it off with this two-run bomb to right center. Amazingly, this swing also gave Oklahoma sole possession of the NCAA record for most home runs by a team in a single season.
‘ @78jocelyn_alo gives us the NCAA single-season HR record with No. 1️⃣5️⃣9️⃣!
ESPN pic.twitter.com/YhT9HVn5Xs
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 10, 2021
After grabbing the lead, sophomore Kinzie Hansen and senior Nicole Mendes logged back-to-back singles. Still with no outs, sophomore Mackenzie Donihoo drove one up the middle to plate a run before freshman Jayda Coleman followed her up by doing the same. Going into the bottom of the frame, OU was sitting comfortably with a 5-2 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, back-to-back singles from Alo and Hansen allowed Mendes to send yet another runner home from third with a flyout to center. Juarez closed out the ‘Noles in their next at-bats, effectively tying up the series going into Game 3.
Four losses on the season and @OU_Softball has avenged ! #WCWS pic.twitter.com/5qN9sXJx16
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) June 10, 2021
Next, Oklahoma and Florida State will square off one final time for all the WCWS marbles. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Thursday, June 10 and will be televised on ESPN.
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