On the brink of elimination, FSU softball needs to respond to adversity again vs. Sooners

OKLAHOMA CITY — It’s been three months since the last time Florida State softball lost back-to-back games.

Following a 5-0 loss to the No. 1 Oklahoma in Game 1 of the best-of-three-games series in the 2023 NCAA Softball Women's College World Series here at USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex Wednesday, the No. 3 Seminoles will need to avoid the mini-losing streak again to avoid seeing its season end.

“We've responded well all season, even from opening weekend,” FSU senior Kaley Mudge said. “I remember being able to respond after a loss in regionals. I think that's huge. Something that we're used to doing is responding, just being able to flush today, learn from it, make adjustments.”

Oklahoma (60-1) has won an NCAA-record 52-straight games and is one win away from a three-peat as National Championships.

The odds are against the Seminoles, something FSU head coach Lonni Alameda admitted following the game.

“Oklahoma is 60-1. There's a lot of teams they've beat,” Alameda sad.

Game 2 live updates: Florida State softball looks to stay alive vs. Oklahoma in Women's College World Series finals

“We know this is a tall task. They're a great ballclub. I think the so what, next pitch kind of mindset is more about us staying in it than really making sure that we just can't give the inches that they got today. They take advantage of them so well.”

The last losing streak for FSU (58-10) came March 12 and 14, amidst a three-game losing streak at the hands of Oklahoma State (two games) and Oklahoma.

The roadtrip to Oklahoma was a chance for the Seminoles to learn about themselves and how to respond to adversity.

And they did.

Now they'll have to stop Oklahoma's 52-game momentum to keep the season alive.

"Definitely hard to stop their momentum. Obviously being here, they have a bunch of crowd cheering for them, too. Just being able to stop the bleeding, I think that's something we've done well all season," Mudge said.

"Obviously having a couple of runs here and there is not ideal. Definitely just being able to stop the bleeding, the infield brought it in quite a few times tonight. Obviously being from the outfield, being able to talk to (Jahni Kerr) and Hallie (Wacaser) to my side, too. Being able to bring the dugout in, not letting them pile more and more runs and more base runners is huge.

"I think we did a pretty good job of that. I'm excited to see (Thursday)."

The Seminoles snapped a six-game winning streak but have been in this situation earlier this postseason when Kathryn Sandercock delivered a perfect game to get the Seminoles past South Carolina in an elimination game in the Tallahassee Regional.

While a win Thursday to continue the season would be huge, Alameda wants her team to play their best and leave it all on the field.

“We got outside ourselves a little bit today,” Alameda said. “It was a lot with the fans and the noise, the moments. I liked how we responded. We kind of went in and out. I would like us to stay a little tighter (Thursday). That's a challenge we talked about in the locker room.”

Weird beginning to the game

Approximately 45 minutes before the first pitch the game went into a lightning delay. Then when the game re-started at 9:10 p.m., nine minutes of action later, there was another lightning delay.

Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso has led the Sooners to six national championships but even she felt Wednesday’s experience was different.

“The rain situation and all of the lightning and so forth kind of put a wrench in it,” Gasso said. “So it felt like a little bit of rushing. It was just uncharacteristic of what the beginning of a championship series would feel like.

“Watching all the fans go in and out, it was just... Some were not moving at all (smiling).”

Jordy Bahl performance

It took a couple of innings for OU ace Jordy Bahl to find her groove amidst the weather delays. But once Bahl did, she took off and was dominant.

She struck out 10 in a shutout performance and limited FSU to just two hits and one walk. Seminoles’ hitters were 0-for-11 with 10 strikeouts when she got them into two-strike counts.

“She's got a legit rise-drop change. Really good pitcher and a really good competitor. Right now she's having a strong World Series, I think she's doing great as an athlete,” FSU senior Mack Leonard said.

“When you're that competitive and you have three phenomenal pitches right in your hip pocket, and you've got a defense like that, it's pretty tough to hit against. We can make adjustments, we can do what we can at the plate, and come out better (Thursday).”

The Seminoles had just two hits — a second-inning single by Michaela Edenfield and a sixth-inning single by Kalei Harding.

But they had a chance with two runners in scoring position in the fourth inning. Leonard lined a ball that missed being fair by inches which would have plated two runs. She struck out on a rise ball on the next pitch and the Sooners responded with a three-run bottom of the frame.

“No, it's not really going to be in my head for a while. If it falls, it falls. If it doesn't, it doesn't. It's the game of softball,” Leonard said. “It's a game of inches. Two runners on base wasn't going to change the game.

“I think we need to make a little more adjustments sooner, keep fighting like team 40 knows how to fight. If we do that (Thursday), I'm pretty confident in us.”

FSU is just the latest team to experience the Bahl breakout postseason. In the NCAA postseason.

The sophomore has allowed just one earned run on 22 hits to go along with 46 strikeouts and three walks in 35 innings of work across the Stillwater Regional, Stillwater Super Regional and the WCWS.

“She wants the ball like nobody's business,” Gasso said. “Not that we don't have faith in our others. It's just she is like a very, very hot pitcher right now. She's throwing the best she has all season right now.

“You want to take advantage of that without running her too hard where she's going to run out of gas. But she is just feeling it right now.”

Seminoles show up in OKC: FSU softball represented well at Women's College World Series

Mudge defensive gem and positive momentum

While a 5-0 loss in Game 1 is hard to swallow, Mudge did give the Seminoles some positive momentum near the end of the game.

Haley Lee hit a shot to left field which looked like it was going to clear the wall. But Mudge ran into position, clutched the outfield wall and brought the ball back to rob Lee of a walk-off home run which would have enacted the run rule.

“Yeah, definitely saw the ball go over my head,” Mudge said. “Knowing the three-run home run could have ended it, wanted to try to do something for Allison, for my team.

“Grateful their fence is short. I was able to get up a little bit on that fence. It's a moment I dream of regardless of the score. Just being able to stay in it, hitters being able to get a little bit more information in the top of the seventh inning is huge for (Thursday). Excited to go out and make more adjustments for (Thursday).”

No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 1 Oklahoma

What: NCAA Softball Women’s College World Series best of three championship series (OU leads 1-0)

When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Friday, 8 p.m. (if necessary)

Where: USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium

TV: Thursday-Friday, ESPN

Records: FSU, 58-10; Oklahoma 60-1

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State softball seeks win vs. Oklahoma to keep WCWS hopes alive