Live updates: FSU vs. Oklahoma State in WCWS (G1 on Thurs)

[Bob Ferrante]

Florida State will play Oklahoma State on Thursday at 7 p.m. on ESPN. It's the third of four games to open play in OKC.

This is the fourth time FSU and Oklahoma State have played in 2023. The Cowgirls won two of three after FSU won the opener on March 10-12, which was part of FSU's spring break. It was the return series after Oklahoma State made the trip to Tallahassee in 2022.

Some pregame reading and listening suggestions:

Curt's story on FSU's use of speed on the base paths to make life difficult on opposing pitchers and defenses: https://floridastate.rivals.com/new...fense-thriving-by-creating-chaos-on-the-bases

Ariya's podcast interview with Alex Powers and Caylan Arnold: https://floridastate.rivals.com/new...ng-fsu-in-wcws-with-alex-powers-caylan-arnold

My stat preview of the pool: FSU, Oklahoma State, Washington and Utah: https://floridastate.rivals.com/news/women-s-cws-caps-fsu-oklahoma-state-washington-utah

(If you enjoy the Seminole Sidelines videos/podcasts, please subscribe on YouTube, Apple or Spotify. Search for "The Osceola." The audience is growing, we've had some insightful guests and are having fun.)

We'll have lineups, in-game updates and a live game thread below. Join us in the conversation.

 

[Bob Ferrante]

 

[Bob Ferrante]

 

[Bob Ferrante]

 

[CocoaNoles]

Great lead up Bob.

GO NOLES!!!

 

[Bob Ferrante]

If you're following other games today:

 

[CurtWeiler]

FSU has lost its last five WCWS openers. Hasn't won its first game in OKC since 2002. Obviously that hasn't stopped their success the last few times they have gone, but would be nice for them to change that tonight and get tomorrow off.

Winner's bracket games aren't until Saturday while loser's bracket games are tomorrow.

 

[Bob Ferrante]

Pregame video courtesy of Hugh Tomlinson:

 

[JerryKutz]

I'm fired up. Love this sport and this team. Objectivity will be tried.

 

[CurtWeiler]

No official word that game will be delayed due to weather but that seems quite possible.

 

[CurtWeiler]

There it is. Unfortunately, the start of the game will be delayed. We'll have updates here for you as we get them.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Just announced: 8:20 EST start time for FSU-Oklahoma State.

 

[waternole]

FSU has lost its last five WCWS openers. Hasn't won its first game in OKC since 2002. Obviously that hasn't stopped their success the last few times they have gone, but would be nice for them to change that tonight and get tomorrow off.

Winner's bracket games aren't until Saturday while loser's bracket games are tomorrow.

Let's go ladies!!!

 

[CurtWeiler]

Kat Sandercock (26-3, 1.10 ERA) getting the start in the circle for FSU, as expected. In two appearances against Oklahoma State earlier this season, she allowed three earned runs on nine hits over 8 innings. She took one of her three losses this season in the rubber match.

Oklahoma State starting Kelly Maxwell (16-5, 1.77 ERA over 138.1 innings). FSU tagged her for five runs, all earned, over 5.1 innings earlier this season in FSU's lone win in the series. She struck out six in that game but walked seven.

 

[CurtWeiler]

FSU lineup:

1	lf	6 Kaley Mudge	L		.354
2	cf	4 Jahni Kerr	L		.362
3	3b	8 Kalei Harding	R		.320
4	c	51 Michaela Edenfield	R		.250
5	2b	9 Devyn Flaherty	L		.331
6	1b	13 Mack Leonard	L		.276
7	rf	1 Hallie Wacaser	R		.325
8	dp	77 Katie Dack	R		.305
9	ss	10 Josie Muffley	R		.264

 

[CurtWeiler]

Oklahoma State lineup:

1	2b	15 Becker, Rachel	L		.449
2	cf	9 Factor, Chyenne	R		.372
3	ss	5 Naomi, Kiley	R		.372
4	1b	12 Wark, Micaela	R		.323
5	rf	11 Carwile, Katelynn	L		.318
6	dp	26 Wynne, Morgyn	R		.302
7	lf	44 Edwards, Tallen	L		.329
8	c	4 Tuck, Taylor	L		.277
9	3b	55 Bloodworth, Megan	R		.194

 

[CurtWeiler]

Kat Sandercock in the circle warming up. About to get this one underway.

I didn’t realize that Kat’s last loss was in that Oklahoma State series. She’s 15-0 since taking the loss in that series finale.

 

[CurtWeiler]

FSU-OSU underway with a strike after an 80-minute delay.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Three-pitch strikeout from Kat to the first batter of the game. Not a bad start at all.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Slow groundout to second for an easy second out.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Sandercock finishes off a 1-2-3 inning with her second strikeout. 11-pitch inning, nine of which were strikes. Dominant stuff.

0-0, M1

 

[CurtWeiler]

Mudge Ks to leadoff the FSU first. Watched two right down the middle and then got fooled by a nasty pitch from Kelly Maxwell.

 

[DFSNOLE]

Sandercock finishes off a 1-2-3 inning with her second strikeout. 11-pitch inning, nine of which were strikes. Dominant stuff.

0-0, M1

Kat looked awfully comfortable in the 1st.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Jahni Kerr Ks on a very similar pitch. Chased a curve ball low and away. Two down.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Kalei Harding draws a walk to extend the inning. Runner on first with two outs for Michaela Edenfield.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Michaela absolutely destroys the first pitch she sees. A no-doubt homer to left-center, one where the outfielders didn't even bother moving.

2-0 Noles, B1

 

[CurtWeiler]

Edenfield's team-high 12th homer of the season, but just her second in the last 14 games. Her getting hot this week would be a big deal for FSU.

 

[NoleLizards]

This girl's tough on lefties.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Devyn Flaherty Ks after a long at-bat. FSU was retired on three strikeouts but has an early lead on Edenfield's bomb.

2-0 FSU after one inning

 

[CurtWeiler]

This girl's tough on lefties.

That curve is filthy.

 

[DFSNOLE]

 

[CurtWeiler]

Love how quickly she knew it was gone and kissed it goodbye.

 

[DFSNOLE]

Kat is pumped! She's consistently at 70mph.

 

[Bob Ferrante]

FSU needs to compile a bunch of "greatest career" videos:

Michaela Edenfield's home runs
Josie Muffley's web gems
Kaley Mudge's hits/steals/catches
Kat Sandercock's big moments

I'm sure there are a bunch of options

 

[CurtWeiler]

FSU error gives OSU a leadoff baserunner. Tough play as it was a chopper that Harding misjudged at third base and it bounced off the bottom of her glove. Edenfield did well backing up the play to make sure runner stayed at first.

 

[CurtWeiler]

FSU needs to compile a bunch of "greatest career" videos:

Michaela Edenfield's home runs
Josie Muffley's web gems
Kaley Mudge's hits/steals/catches
Kat Sandercock's big moments

I'm sure there are a bunch of options

Throw Devyn and Amaya steals in there as well. Two speed demons on the bases.

 

[pcnole1976]

Errors...errors...errors

I honestly believe, other than Oklahoma, the only thing that can beat FSU.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Sandercock bounces back nicely with a strikeout after falling behind 2-0. Her third of the game already in four outs.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Errors...errors...errors

I honestly believe, other than Oklahoma, the only thing that can beat FSU.

Weren't those what doomed the 2016 team in OKC? That team was loaded on the mound and at the plate but think they had a brutal game vs. Georgia, if memory serves.

 

[CurtWeiler]

Sandercock walks the next batter to put two OSU runners on base with one out.