Sooners Take Top-10 Showdown Over Seminoles

Tuesday, March 14

Norman

6 PM CT

University of Oklahoma

Florida State

Sooners Take Top-10 Showdown Over Seminoles

March 14, 2023 | Softball

Box Score Highlights Box: OU 5, FSU 4 Photo Gallery

NORMAN — No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 6 Florida State lived up to the billing in the highest-ranked regular season matchup at Marita Hynes Field since 2007.

The Sooners prevailed 5-4 over the Seminoles in front of a sold out crowd of 1,879, powered by 13 hits from the offense and a stellar relief performance from sophomore right-handed pitcher Jordy Bahl.

After a scoreless first, Oklahoma (22-1) got on the board in the bottom of the second. Following a single from junior Alyssa Brito and fielder's choice to senior Kinzie Hansen, senior Alynah Torres ripped a single through the right side to plate Hansen and put the Sooners up one through two.

The Seminoles (21-6) struck back in the second inning on a solo shot from sophomore pinch hitter Jahni Kerr before OU regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning courtesy of back-to-back home runs from super senior Haley Lee and junior Tiare Jennings. It was Lee's fifth homer of the season, good for a tie of the team lead, while Jennings cranked her fourth of the season and 60th of her career.

In the fourth, the back-and-forth battle continued with Florida State plating three runs on three hits to retake the lead, 4-3. Following a pair of singles from Kalei Harding and Michaela Edenfield, designated player Katie Dack hit a three-run home run to put FSU back in front. The two home runs given up by OU starting pitcher Alex Storako were just the second and third long balls the redshirt senior has given up in 2023. Storako entered the matchup with just one earned run surrendered on the year before giving up four on the night.

Oklahoma moved back in front for good in the fourth with two runs on five hits. After a leadoff single from senior Rylie Boone followed by a base hit from Jayda Coleman, Lee laced an RBI double off the wall to score Boone. Jennings followed suit with an RBI single to score Coleman and give OU a lead it would not surrender.

Bahl entered in the top of the fifth and retired six of the 10 batters she faced via strikeout, surrendering no runs or walks to FSU and just one hit. Bahl earned the save in relief, her first of the season and second of her career, while Storako got the win in the circle and moved to 7-0 on the year. The Michigan grad transfer fanned six and surrendered four runs on five hits and one walk.

At the plate, Brito paced OU with a 3-for-4 performance while Lee and Jennings each with 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs a piece. Torres brought in OU's other run in a 2-for-3 showing for the senior.

After playing six games in five days, Oklahoma has two days off before returning to action in Oklahoma City this weekend for five games at the third annual Omni Hotels Hall of Fame Classic. Oklahoma meets Weber State, Northwestern and Auburn at USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex, March 17-19. All games can be seen via SoonerVision on ESPN+ and heard via 107.7 The Franchise, 1560 The Franchise 2 or nationwide on The Varsity app. Tickets for Friday and Sunday are still available via SoonerSports.com/tickets.

For updates and more information on Oklahoma softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.