Strong pitching puts Florida St, Oklahoma St one win from Women’s College World Series berths

Kathryn Sandercock has found her groove, and now Florida State is one win away from returning to the Women’s College World Series.

Sandercock allowed a run in 5 2/3 innings as No. 3 seed Florida State beat No. 14 seed Georgia 8-1 in Game 1 of the Tallahassee Super Regional on Thursday.

It wasn’t as good as her previous performance — she pitched a perfect game with five strikeouts on Sunday in a 1-0 win over South Carolina that clinched Florida State’s spot in the super regionals. But Thursday’s effort was enough to put the Seminoles (54-9) ahead in the best-of-three series with Georgia (42-14).

The Seminoles won the national title in 2018 and were runners-up in 2021. Sandercock was a key player on that 2021 team, winning three World Series games and earning all-tournament honors. But last year, the Seminoles lost in regional play despite being the No. 2 seed overall.

This year Florida State is still alive and Sandercock is rolling. She’s now 3-0 in the NCAA Tournament, and she’ll be relatively fresh heading into Friday’s game after throwing just 63 shots in the first super regional game.

Sandercock made his 179th appearance in the Florida State circle, tying Leslie Malerich’s Florida State record for most pitched appearances.

Lily of the valley puree

Florida State’s Kaley Mudge had three hits and three RBIs against Georgia.

The All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team performer had an RBI double in the third, and she singled to hit a two-run in the fifth.

Mudge knows how to react under pressure – she was part of the World Series all-tournament team in 2021.

THE GAME WORKS

Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski chose to pitch Lexi Kilfoyl over Kelly Maxwell, and it worked.

Kilfoyl pitched a full game as No. 6 seed Oklahoma State (45-14) beat unranked Oregon 8-1 Thursday night in Game 1 of the Stillwater Super Regional.

Maxwell is the most accomplished pitcher. She was on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s All-American First Team last season, and this season she was one of 25 finalists for United States Collegiate Softball Player of the Year and a First-Team selection. All Big 12.

Kilfoyl, a second-team All-Big 12 selection this season, had been strong recently. Maxwell picked up the victory in the regional opener against Maryland-Baltimore County last Friday, with Kilfoyl adding a perfect round of relief. The next day, Kilfoyl won with six shutout innings against Wichita State, one of the best offensive teams in the country. Then Kilfoyl picked up the victory in relief of Maxwell against Nebraska on Sunday in the game that clinched the super regional spot.

Kilfoyl continued Thursday, striking out the last 17 batters she faced. Now the Cowgirls are one win away from their fourth straight trip to the World Series.

It didn’t look good at first. Oregon (38-16) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning before Oklahoma State scored three runs in the fourth and four in the fifth.

EARLY EXIT

Oregon assistant coach Nikki Ragin was ejected in the sixth inning against Oklahoma State. She got into a fight after one of Oregon’s batters was called out for hitting out of the box. Oklahoma State was leading 7-1 when the ejection happened.

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: twitter.com/CliffBruntAP.

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