Ryan Aber,Colton SulleyThe Oklahoman
Coach Patty Gassoand thesecond-seeded OU softball teamwill look to start of the Norman Super Regional with a bang against 15th-seeded Florida State.
Here's what you need to know about the Sooners (52-6) vs. Seminoles (46-14):
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OU softball live score updates vs.Florida State
More: How to watch OU softball vs Florida State in Norman Super Regional of NCAA Tournament
FINAL: OU 11, Florida State 3 (5)
Kasidi Pickering drew a bases-loaded walk and Sooners win 11-3 in five innings.
All four of OU's baserunners in the inning came via walk, with Ella Parker and Alyssa Brito drawing back-to-back walks before Pickering drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
More: OU softball vs Florida State takeaways: Alyssa Brito powers Sooners in NCAA super regional
Top 5: Florida State extends game
Florida State gets a run across with two down in the fifth and the run-rule is off the table for now. Sooners lead 10-3.
End 4: Alyssa Brito does it again, Kinzie Hansen pours it on
Alyssa Brito's first home run of the day was a line shot.
Her second was a moonshot.
Brito belted her second home run of the game, a two-run shot to left center, with one out in the fourth, to put the Sooners up 7-2 and start a party atmosphere at Love's Field.
It was Brito's third multi-home run game of the season. She also did it March 17 at Texas Tech and Feb. 10 against Long Beach State in Mexico.
After Kasidi Pickering singled to center, Kinzie Hansen belted a home run of her own to put OU's lead at 9-2 and move the game to the brink of run-rule territory.
The Sooners added another on Cydney Sanders' RBI single to left, but Sanders was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double.
OU softball catcher Kinzie Hansen talks about homer vs Florida State
OU softball catcher Kinzie Hansen talks about homer vs Florida State
Mid-4: Sooners' defense comes through
After OU took a 5-2 lead in the third, Florida State put pressure on the Sooners in the next half inning.
The Seminoles put the first two runners on to bring the top of the order around.
But Kaley Mudge couldn't get down the bunt, and the Sooners took advantage of another Florida State base running miscue.
Mudge's pop bunt was snagged by OU third baseman Alyssa Brito, who quickly fired to first to catch Kennedy Harp off first for the double play.
Kelly Maxwell then got Jaysoni Beachum to fly out to right to end the inning.
End 3: Alyssa Brito puts Sooners back up front
OU third baseman Alyssa Brito wasted no time putting the Sooners back in front after Florida State tied it in the top of the third.
Brito belted Ashtyn Danley's 3-0 offering over the left-field wall for her 17th home run of the season and her second extra-base hit of the game.
The Sooners added two more in the inning, first on an error after Rylie Boone laid down a bunt single, then on Alynah Torres' groundout that allowed Kinzie Hansen to score.
Mid-3: Devyn Flaherty ties it after Sooners catch a break
With one out in the third, it looked like Florida State had an excellent chance to at least cut the lead in half after Kalei Harding ripped what looked to be a surefire double into the left-center field gap.
But as she rounded second and headed toward third, Seminoles' freshman Jaysoni Beachum tripped and fell. Beachum was able to recover and scramble back to second just ahead of the throw, but Harding was held to just a single and Florida State's momentum was stunted.
The runners moved up on a wild pitch, then Maxwell was called for a pitch-clock violation with three balls to load the bases.
Maxwell then struck out Isa Torres for the second out of the inning before Devyn Flaherty delivered a two-run single to tie it.
More: More: OU softball's Tiare Jennings ties Lauren Chamberlain for 3rd on NCAA career home run list
End 2: Alynah Torres breaks out, Cydney Sanders can't get a break
In her weekly media availability Tuesday, OU coach Patty Gasso talked about the recent struggles of Alynah Torres and Cydney Sanders at the plate.
One of them broke out in the second inning Thursday.
After Rylie Boone was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Torres ripped a double into the right-center field gap to score Boone and put the Sooners up 2-0.
Sanders followed, belting a line drive to left but it was right at Florida State's Kaley Mudge and Sanders was retired for the first out of the inning.
Sanders was 0 for 4 in last weekend's regional and is just 2 of her last 25 (.080).
Mid-2: Kelly Maxwell settles in after rough first
After an eventful first inning that included loading the bases, OU starter Kelly Maxwell had a much less stressful second inning.
Maxwell retired the side in order, with a groundout, a strikeout and a fly out to end the inning.
End 1: Tiare Jennings ties Lauren Chamberlain with solo shot
After making an impressive defensive play in the top half of the inning, Tiare Jennings helped the Sooners with the bat in the bottom half.
With one out, Jennings smoked Ashtyn Danley's 1-0 offering over the centerfield wall to give OU a 1-0 lead.
The home run was the 95th of Jennings' career, tying her with Lauren Chamberlain for third in NCAA history and second in OU history. It was Jennings' 18th career NCAA Tournament home run.
Alyssa Brito just missed a home run herself two batters later, but the ball hit a few inches down just to the left of straightaway center and Brito scrambled to second for a double.
Mid-1: Kelly Maxwell keeps Florida State off the board after leadoff walk
Kelly Maxwell had a less-than stellar start.
A walk to leadoff hitter Kaley Mudge and a passed ball gave Florida State a runner in scoring position with no outs.
But Maxwell got out of it, with some help from her defense.
Alyssa Brito jumped to snag a looper to third, then Tiare Jennings made the play of the inning, diving to keep Kalei Harding’s hit from reaching the outfield, then quickly throwing to third to retire Mudge.
Maxwell then walked Michaela Edenfield before hitting Isa Torres to load the bases and bring up Devyn Flaherty.
Maxwell then got Flaherty to ground out up the first base line, fielding it herself and flipping to Cydney Sanders for the out.
The play was reviewed and the call was upheld, keeping the game scoreless.
Pregame update: Kelly Maxwell in the circle
Unsurprisingly, Kelly Maxwell is in the circle for the Sooners in the super regional opener.
Maxwell (19-2, 1.87 ERA) threw nine innings in last week's regional, allowing just two hits and one run, picking up a win and a save.
Freshman Ashtyn Danley (18-5, 3.12) will get the start for Florida State.
Alynah Torres is at second base for the Sooners (52-6) while Cydney Sanders, who has scuffled at the plate recently, is starting at first and hitting ninth. Rylie Boone is in the seven spot once again after spending much of the season in the nine hole.
Pregame weather update: Gate-opening delayed
The scheduled 4:30 p.m. opening of gates for Love's Field ahead of the super regional opener is delayed as storms have started moving through Norman.
The opener is scheduled for 6 p.m.
OU softball highlights vs.Florida State
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What time does OU softball vs.Florida State start?
- Date:Thursday, May 23
- Time:6 p.m. CT
- Where:Love's Field in Norman
More: Relive OU softball's run to three straight WCWS titles with our 'Crimson Empire' book
What channel is OU softball vs.Florida Stateon today?
- TV:ESPN2
- How to watch online:Watch ESPN (here's how to stream it live)
More: OU softball 'very knowledgeable' about NCAA super regional foe, Florida State
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