Oklahoma Wins Longest Game Ever in WCWS History – Game 1 Recap
Florida and Oklahoma took the field on June 5, 2017, for game one of the Championship Series at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. Both of these teams are no strangers to the Women’s College World Series Championship Series. Oklahoma, the defending 2016 National Champions are looking for a back-to-back title to bring back to Norman. Florida won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015 and are looking to take their third title in the last four seasons. We at Fastpitch News are expecting a great series to be played, below is the recap from Game 1.
Florida took the field first as the home team in the opening game. It was no surprise to see sophomore Kelly Barnhill in the circle for the Gators. The curveball was seeing Paige Lowary as the starting arm for Oklahoma. Lowary only started 15 games this season for the Sooners and her last was on April 28th against Texas Tech.
The first hit of the game came in form of an infield hit that dropped five feet in front of the plate by Florida’s No. 9 hitter, Justine McLean. Florida threatened again in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Nicole DeWitt shortened up her swing off Lowary and produced a stand-up double. With two outs, Aleshia Ocasio hit a single up the middle scoring DeWitt.
OU’s Nicole Pendley broke up Barnhill’s perfect game in the top of the fifth with a double to right-center field with one out, bringing Romero to the plate. The crowd boomed as Deja Vu occurred as Romero singled up the middle to score Pendley from second. This was the first run given up by Barnhill at the World Series.
In the top of the sixth, the Sooner’s broke the 1-1 tie on a blast over the right-center wall by freshman lead-off hitter Nicole Mendes. The scored move to 2-1 in favor of Oklahoma. This is the first time the Gators have trailed in the World Series.
Paige Parker entered the game for Oklahoma to kick off the bottom of the sixth inning.
In the top of the seventh, the Sooners looked to add an insurance run with Fale Aviu getting things going with a lead-off single through the 5-6 hole. Barnhill buckled down and recorded a strikeout followed by two ground ball outs to end the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh Janell Wheaton drew a lead-off walk, bringing up Aleshia Ocasio who has had a hot bat for the Gators during the World Series. Ocasio grounded into a fielder’s choice for the first out. Brooke Clemens was entered as a pinch-hitter for Jordan Roberts and popped up to shortstop for the second out. With a 3-2 count and two outs, Sophia Reynoso hit a shallow fly ball in front of two diving Sooner outfielders scoring Ocasio from first. With the game tied 2-2, Parker struck out senior Chelsea Herndon to send the game into the eighth.
Senior Delanie Gourley took over in the circle for the Gators in the top of the eighth.
The second pitcher’s duel of the game continued between Parker and Gourley. In the top of the 12th, Shay Knighten led off driving a 0-2 pitch into the left field corner for a standup double. On the next pitch, Fale Aviu drove a ball over the right field wall putting the Sooners up 4-2.
In the bottom of the 12th Jordan Roberts drew a lead-off walk for the Gators. Sophia Reynoso followed up with a single to right field. With runners on first and second with nobody out, Theresa Swertfager, a pinch hitter, popped up a bunt for the first out. Jaimie Hoover stepped up to the plate to pinch-hit in the nine spot and struck out on three pitches.
With two outs and two runners on, Oklahoma makes another pitching change, bringing in Paige Lowary to face off against Florida’s Amanda Lorenz. Lorenz took a 1-2 pitch from Lowary into the left center gap scoring both runners and tying the game back up 4-4. Kayli Kvistad ended the inning grounding out to third.
The Gators escaped a bases-loaded jam with two outs in the top of the 15th inning. In the bottom of the frame, McLean got things started for the Gators drawing a lead-off walk. Lorenz hit into a double play bringing up Kvistad. Lowary ended the inning with a strikeout.
In the top of the 16th, Caleigh Clifton led off the inning with a double to center. Barnhill re-entered following the double. Barnhill threw the first 7.0 innings of the game. After a walk to Knighten, a sac fly by Aviu moved the Sooner runners to second and third with one out. Pendley walked. Romero grounded into a fielder’s choice at home for the second out. The Sooners brought in Kylie Lundberg to pinch hit, but Barnhill was determined and got the strikeout.
A single, followed by a hit by pitch, and a monster home run into the left-field bleachers by Shay Knighten put the Sooners up 7-4 in the top of the 17th inning.
The bottom of the 17th started for the Gators with an infield single by Lily Mann. Sophia Reynoso followed up with a base hit single of her own to put runners on first and second. Herndon hit into a fielder’s choice with OU getting the out at second. With runners on first and third the nine hitter, McLean singled loading the bases for Lorenz with one out. Lowary got Lorenz to line out to left field, scoring the runner from third. Kvistad stepped into the box with two outs and runners on first and second. Lowary got Kvistad on a low and inside pitch to earn the victory for the Sooners in the circle with a final score of 7-5.
Good Knighten!!! #SoonerMagic #PowerOf3👌
See you again tomorrow night!
Recap ➡️ https://t.co/7EhSRE5RkD pic.twitter.com/To2ypAcVqb
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 6, 2017
Oklahoma Pitching #’s:
Paige Lowary 10.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 SO
Paige Parker 6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 7 SO
Florida Pitching #’s:
Kelly Barnhill 9.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 13 SO
Delanie Gourley 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 13 SO
496 pitchers were thrown by all four pitchers in Game 1. Game 2 between Florida and Oklahoma will take place on Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT.
