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Kelly Maxwell, Tiare Jennings put OU softball one win closer to WCWS championship series

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•06/01/24•

BPrzybylo

Syndication: The Oklahoman
OU senior pitcher Kelly Maxwell. (Bryan Terry - The Oklahoman/USA TODAY Network).

OKLAHOMA CITY – When you get to this time of year, not much separates the best of the best in softball. That certainly was the case between OU and UCLA.

All it takes is one hit there. Or one nice defensive play here. Or a big strikeout. Very little difference. But when the big moments came, OU rose to the occasion just enough.

Paced by Tiare Jennings at the plate and Kelly Maxwell in the circle, the Sooners are one game closer to playing in the championship series.

OU earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory against No. 6 UCLA on Saturday afternoon in a winner’s bracket Women’s College World Series game at OGE Field at Devon Park.

The No. 2-ranked Sooners are now just one win away from advancing to next week’s championship series.

It was a surprise, to some, to see Maxwell getting the nod. But head coach Patty Gasso has been consistent all season in the confidence she has in the lefty.

For all the spotty outings of late from Maxwell, this was not one of them. She was as good as she’s been in an OU uniform.

Going head-to-head against fellow superstar, Maya Brady, Maxwell struck her out three times. The one in the top of the first inning just a sign of things to come. Brady was also the last out of the game, going 0 for 4.

With UCLA threatening in the top of the sixth with two runners on, Maxwell got the final out with her 10th strikeout.

To the top of the seventh, and Maxwell added one more for her 11th strikeout. Maxwell allowed two hits and walked three.

The Sooners only had four hits, but they had Jennings. The first pitch of the bottom of the third? Jennings took it out for a solo home run. Jennings had two of the four hits.

OU attempted to put some separation, but a two-run home run by Kasidi Pickering was stolen by UCLA’s Janelle Meono to keep it 1-0.

Up next

A lot of waiting for OU, the good kind, watching a lot of softball. The Sooners will play 11 a.m. Monday against either Alabama, Texas or Florida. UT-UF play Saturday evening, then the loser of that game plays the Crimson Tide on Sunday afternoon. OU will get two chances to advance to the championship series. If the Sooners lose the first one, they’ll come right back and play a winner-take-all contest.

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