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WCWS: Gator Softball Held To Three Hits, Loses 2-0 To Oklahoma State

By Benjamin Henderson

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 4: Starting pitcher Natalie Lugo #10 of the Florida Gators throws against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the NCAA Women's College World Series at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex on June 4, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 2-0. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - JUNE 4: Starting pitcher Natalie Lugo #10 of the Florida Gators throws against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the NCAA Women's College World Series at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex on June 4, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State won 2-0. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Florida Falls To Oklahoma State

If a team is going to make a deep run at the WCWS, at some point they are going to come across an elite pitcher they have to solve.

That was the case for the Florida Gators softball team Saturday when they took on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in a winner’s bracket matchup.

Cowgirls’ pitcher Kelly Maxwell lived up to her elite billing, holding the Gators to just three hits in a complete game shut out as Oklahoma State came away with the 2-0 victory.

After opening the game with a bunt single and a walk, Maxwell would go on to retire the next 15 Gator batters in a row. Maxwell routinely hit the upper 60s on the radar gun and collected eight strikeouts during this stretch, seven via a swing and a miss.

Florida kept Oklahoma State’s offense mostly in check, surrendering only six hit themselves. But in the 3rd inning Oklahoma State utilized small ball and scored the first run of the game off a bunt single from Chyenne Factor.

The Cowgirls’ would get their second run in the 4th inning off an RBI single from former Gator Julia Cottrill.

In 6th inning it looked like maybe, just maybe, the Gators were starting to solve Maxwell. They ended their string of 15 straight outs and had runners on first and second with one out AND had All American Skylar Wallace up to bat.

Wallace popped out followed by Charla Echols grounding out to end the threat.

Florida tried to string together one last gasp in the 7th and looked like they had a chance. Pinch hitter Sarah Longley singled and Katie Kistler appeared to be hit by a pitch to once again have runners on first and second.

The umpires ruled, even after video review, that the ball hit the knob of her bat. She would then ground out and after a pop out the Gators’ night was over.

Florida now falls into the loser’s bracket of the WCWS where the pathway to championship series is possible, but it will be a very tall order.

Step one in the journey is against #5 UCLA. If the Gators can emerge from the victorious, they will need to beat #1 Oklahoma twice to advance to the championship series of the WCWS.

Any loss in those three attempts and the season will be over.

Keep up with all things Gators here.

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