Patty Gasso on Kelly Maxwell’s potential pitching duration in the championship series opener: “You go as far as you can.”
On Tuesday, Oklahoma’s season depended on Kelly Maxwell’s pitching in an elimination game against Florida. She rose to the occasion, throwing 148 pitches to guide the Sooners back to the Women’s College World Series championship series against Texas.
Over 24 hours later, Maxwell returned to the mound for Game 1 against the Longhorns.
Great Speech: Patty Gasso emphasized that OU needed to give their all against Texas, beginning with Maxwell’s performance.
Through four innings, she gave up just one run, allowing Oklahoma to maintain a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.
Regarding how long the Oklahoma State transfer can pitch on such short rest, Gasso mentioned she’ll push Maxwell to her limits given the high stakes. “This is a World Series, so you grit it out,” Gasso told ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “You go as far as you can. She’ll either let us know or we’ll see if she needs attention. But right now, she’s in a rhythm.”
Oklahoma began strongly against Texas with Tiare Jennings hitting a two-run homer for a 2-0 lead. Texas narrowed the gap when Mia Scott hit a solo home run, but OU extended their lead to 5-1 with back-to-back homers from Kinzie Hansen and Kasidi Pickering.
Gasso stated that her team followed the game plan initially, but she hopes Oklahoma can generate more scoring opportunities against a Texas team known for its potent offense and strong pitching.
“Attacking early in the count set a good tone,” Gasso observed regarding OU’s performance in the opening innings. “Kelly’s doing a fantastic job against some tough hitters. They’re sticking to the game plan. We just need to get more runners in scoring position. But I’m pleased with our progress so far.”
Patty Gasso’s team is aiming to achieve what no other team has by winning four consecutive WCWS titles. However, Mike White’s squad, the No. 1 overall seed, stands in their way, having swept the regular-season series against Oklahoma for the first time in 15 years.
The Women’s College World Series began with a double-elimination format, but the championship series transitions to a Best of 3 series. Game 1 is on Wednesday night, followed by Game 2 on Thursday. If necessary, Game 3 will take place on Friday in Oklahoma City.
