Softball Live Blog: Oklahoma Meets Texas in Game 1 of the WCWS Championship Series

The Sooners and the Longhorns are set to clash with a national title on the line.

Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman / USA TODAY

OKLAHOMA CITY — Ryan Chapman and John Hoover offer their real-time observations as the Oklahoma Sooners take on the Texas Longhorns at Devon Park, formerly USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, in the first game of the 2024 WCWS Championsip Series. Newest posts are at the top. Just keep the browser open and refresh often for Chapman and Hoover’s updates throughout this afternoon's contest. 

9:37 p.m.

Reese Atwood is an excellent player. 

She’s been flat-out awful against Oklahoma. All year this year, non-factor last year. It’s wild. 

Atwood threw down to third to try and get Brito out, and sailed the ball into the outfield. 

Oklahoma up 8-3.

— RC 

9:32 p.m.

Maxwell’s 110th pitch was called for strike three, because of course it was. 

Yet to be seen if we see the lefty in the seventh, but she was excellent again tonight. 

Sitting on six K’s, four walks and four hits, Texas has just three outs left. 

— RC 

9:27 p.m.

After an extensive review, the call on the field is upheld. 

Henry is on first, Mitchell on second. 

Two outs, OU up 7-3. Any chance of a Texas comeback likely rides on this at-bat.

— RC 

9:07 p.m.

Patty Gasso is generally pretty reserved in her third base coaching box. 

Yesterday, she was asking the OU alumni in the front row for noise as the game turned on Florida. 

There, she let out about six small fist pumps after Tiare Jennings batted Avery Hodge in. 

Everything’s coming up Sooners tonight. OU takes a 7-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth. 

— RC 

9:00 p.m.

Cydney Sanders is leading off the sixth inning, but Alynah Torres is in the on-deck circle. 

She hasn’t played since her scary moment against UCLA on Saturday. 

— RC 

8:49 p.m.

There’s the Texas defense. 

The Longhorns enter tonight ranked 113th in the country in fielding percentage, and second baseman Alyssa Washington gifted another run to the Sooners. 

She was hustling to beat Pickering down the line, and scooped the ball well clear of first baseman Katie Stewart. 

The ball rolled into the dugout, but Hansen was going to score anyways. OU’s catcher was able to add some style points, however, as she jogged home with her hands high above her head. 

Oklahoma’s lead is now 6-1 headed into the bottom of the fifth. 

— RC

8:45 p.m.

Sooners lead 5-1 through four. 

Kelly Maxwell has five strikeouts already, she’s pacing toward the 10 she threw in her win over Texas in Austin earlier this year. 

— RC 

8:38 p.m.

Something Florida coach Tim Walton said yesterday is happening so far today.

You better get to Kelly Maxwell early, because you’re not gonna get to her late. We'll see if that holds true, but she's on a heater at the moment.

Before that walk, she’d retired five in a row and 10 of her last 12.

— JH

8:20 p.m.

National Player of the Year Finalist Reece Atwood had a golden chance. 

She stepped in with a pair of baserunners on after Maxwell allowed back-to-back one-out walks with Texas down 5-1.

After a quick meeting between Jennifer Rocha and Maxwell, Atwood bounced one back to the circle on the second pitch. 

The OU lead remains four runs headed to the fourth. 

— RC 

8:08 p.m.

Mike White has had about as much success as any other coach against Patty Gasso since 2021 (which is admittedly not a lot).

Texas hasn’t beat Oklahoma in the Sooner State since April 18, 2014.

Wow. 

— RC 

8:04 p.m.

And that Boone single raises her seasson average to .402.

Unfortunately for Oklahoma, Cydney Sanders' average drops to .240 this year after hitting into an inning-ending double play.

OU leads it 5-1.

-- JH

8:03 p.m.

There was a pretty interesting dynamic headed into this game. 

Texas got the day off yesterday, so they have the rest advantage. 

Kelly Maxwell was the marathon woman in the circle, but the nature of yesterday’s comeback gave the Sooners a ton of momentum. 

Looks like the momentum is winning the day so far. 

Sooners on top 5-1 headed to the bottom of the third. 

— RC 

8:02 p.m.

That home run by Kinzie Hansen raises her season average to ..403, while Kasidi Pickering's homer to make it 5-1 raises her season average to. 389.

The Sooner long ball is back.

-- JH

8:00 p.m.

Back-to-back bombs?

Back-to-back bombs. 

Kasidi Pickering wanted to give the fans in straightaway center something to remember tonight by. 

Devon Park is rocking. 

The travel ball teams in the outfield have departed for the week. It’s all Sooners, and they’re all loving what they’re watching. 

— RC 

7:58 p.m.

Ella Parker’s infield single turned into a two-run shot courtesy of Kinzie Hansen. 

Sooners on top 4-1.

— RC 

7:55 p.m.

Get this.

Oklahoma had four .400 hitters yesterday, plus three others right under .400.

Currently, Ella Parker is the ONLY Sooner hitting over .400 at .424 (3-for-4 yesterday and 2-for-2 today).

Coleman (.387), Jennings (.376), Brito (.399), Hansen (.399), Pickering (.385) and Boone (.399) are all hovering just below .400.

— JH

7:52 p.m.

Pretty good pitching by Maxwell there. She worked inside and outside, and had Kayden Henry guessing on that last strikeout. 

That’s two strikeouts in two innings for Maxwell.

— JH

7:51 p.m.

Kelly Maxwell set Texas down in order in the second courtesy of a pair of innocuous popups to Coleman and a strikeout. 

She’s a cool customer pitching in her first ever Championship Series game. 

— RC

7:43 p.m.

Avery Hodge and Jayda Coleman drew back-to-back two-out walks, but Jennings popped up to end the top of the second.

Another heavy pitch inning from Kavan, however. 

Wonder how quickly Mike White will turn to lefty Estelle Czech if Kavan’s pitch count continues to climb. 

— RC 

7:32 p.m.

After getting Viv Martinez to fly out and walking Reese Atwood, Maxwell gets Stewart to ground out and we go to the second inning with Oklahoma leading 2-1.

— JH

7:30 p.m.

A home run goes each way, the difference on the scoreboard is Kavan issuing one free pass before the home run as opposed to Maxwell’s walk after the solo shot. 

The Texas freshman also needed 31 pitches to get through the first while Maxwell only needed 18 pitches. 

It’s gonna be back-and-forth for at least 14 innings, but I’d expect nothing more from these two teams. 

— RC 

7:28 p.m.

Are we in for a fireworks show?

Mia Scott just took Kelly Maxwell out to right field.

That’s two home runs in 1 1/3 innings.

Hang on tight.

— JH

7:21 p.m.

Ella Parker’s double off the wall goes for naught as Kinzie Hansen and Kasidi Pickering can’t get her home. She did get to third on a wild pitch.

Runners left on base need to be at a minimum this game for the Sooners.

Kelly Maxwell coming to the circle.

— JH

7:18 p.m.

That home run was Tiare Jennings’ 11th-career bomb at the WCWS. 

She’s one behind Jocelyn Alo for the career record at a WCWS. 

Incredible player. 

— RC 

7:13 p.m.

Kelly Maxwell knows this feeling. 

Her walks in each of the first two innings yesterday ended up adding on another run to balls that left the park. 

Freshman Teagan Kavan nailed Jayda Coleman, and Tiare Jennings made her pay with a two-run shot. 

This is exactly why Patty Gasso said the Sooners love playing as the road team. 

Kelly Maxwell, who is likely tired from yesterday’s outing, will take the mound on top. 

— RC 

7:11 p.m.

Jayda Coleman takes one high and tight and slams the bat on her way to first.

Tiare Jennings takes one right down the middle, hits it into the seats, and slams her bat (a little) on her way to first — and second, third and home.

Home run Sooners.

OU leads 2-0.

— JH

7:08 p.m.

First pitch coming up.

I can’t imagine the chess match going on in the dugouts right now, and I can’t imagine the amount of pressure/anxiety some — repeat, SOME — of the combatants are feeling.

It’s the ones who aren’t feeling emotionally overwhelmed who will stand out with their individual performances.

What a scene.

— JH

6:51 p.m.

Kelly Maxwell will start in the circle for the Sooners, and Avery Hodge will be at second base.

Of note, though. Alynah Torres did not warm up either of the last two days, but she went through line drills today. She is available if the Sooners need her.

Mike White is rolling with Teagan Kavan in the circle. Let's softball.

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