Jordy Bahl threw a two-hitter and struck out 10, leading Oklahoma to a 5-0 victory over Florida State on Wednesday night and bringing them closer to their third consecutive national title.
THUNDER (AP) — Jordy Bahl’s powerful pitching and boundless energy have Oklahoma on the verge of a third straight softball national championship.
Bahl threw a two-hitter and struck out 10 as Oklahoma defeated Florida State 5-0 on Wednesday night. The top-seeded Sooners (60-1) took a 1-0 lead in the Women’s College World Series best-of-three championship series and can clinch their seventh national title on Wednesday.
Bahl was constantly in motion, encouraging her teammates and creating a vibe that carried throughout the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex. She sparked the Sooners when she scored as a pinch runner for Oklahoma’s second run.
“We needed a spark,” said Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso. “We needed a spark. I think when Jordy comes in to play, our team gets kind of amped.”
Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo set the career College Series record for runs batted in with a single in the sixth inning that scored Rylie Boone to make it 5-0. Her 29 RBIs broke the record set by Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo last year.
Boone had two doubles, while Kinzie Hansen and Alyssa Brito each had two hits for the Sooners.
Florida State (58-10) started Mack Leonard, a senior who had only pitched 37 1/4 innings this season, and she took the loss. She gave up one run and one hit but didn’t get the run support she needed.
“I thought Mack pitched well,” said Florida State coach Lonni Alameda. “We had our chances there. We had a couple of swings, had our chances.”
Kathryn Sandercock, the team’s ace, did not play. Alameda said she never considered putting her into the game.
“Just sticking with the plan we had all year,” she said. “I think they’re (Oklahoma) a really good team at making adjustments. Needed to see what we had from our other pitchers as well.”
The game started an hour late due to lightning near the stadium, was delayed again in the first inning, and started two hours after the original start time.
Even with the delays, Bahl couldn’t relax.
“I was doing a lot of pacing, trying to stay mentally locked in,” she said. “‘Okay, when are we going to start playing? Are they going to stop?’ I was very concerned about what was going to happen.”
The Sooners started getting to Bahl in the fourth inning. Haley Lee was hit by a pitch, ending Leonard’s night in the circle. Makenna Reid came in for Florida State, but Hansen doubled off her to score Bahl, who ran for Lee.
Brito singled to score Hansen. Alynah Torres hit a chopper and beat the throw to first, scoring Brito to extend Oklahoma’s lead to 3-0.
In the fifth, Hansen’s single scored Jayda Coleman to make it 4-0.
Although Florida State saw glimpses of hope, they were quickly extinguished. Kalei Harding hit what appeared to be a double in the sixth, but Coleman threw her out at second by a couple of steps.
Jennings’ RBI made it 5-0. Oklahoma could have added three more runs in the sixth, but Florida State left fielder Kaley Mudge leaped up and reached over the fence to make a spectacular catch that robbed Lee.
It wasn’t enough, and for the first time in this World Series, Florida State finds themselves in a must-win situation.
“I mean, we’ve got to play our best game,” Alameda said. “That’s all we have. Our backs against the wall. Regardless, it’s been an incredible season. For us to be where we’re at right now — I told the kids don’t hang your heads.”
