Oklahoma Defeats Florida In 17-Inning Thriller Game One Of WCWS Finals

After nearly five and a half hours and almost two and half softball games combined into one, Oklahoma’s Shay Knighten said good night to a three-run home run in the 17th inning that helped propel the Sooners to a 7-5 victory over Florida in Game One in the Women’s College World Series Finals.

The two teams nearly played the best-of-three series in one night, as Monday night’s contest was the longest game in NCAA championship history. Watch as Knighten jacked the three-run shot over the left field fence with two outs to give Oklahoma the lead for good.

Oklahoma left the bases loaded in both the 15th and 16th innings before getting on the board in order secure the win.

Down 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Florida’s Sophia Reynoso doubled with two outs to bring in the tying run and send the game to extras tied 2-2.

Oklahoma hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the 12th to take a 4-2 lead, but again Florida rallied, driving in two runs on a two-out double to once again tie the game and continue the already crazy marathon game. Each team used two pitchers that threw over 100 pitches.

The Sooners (60-9) broke the game’s second tie for good with Knighten’s blast in the top of the 17th, and although the Gators (58-9) loaded up the bases in the bottom of the inning, they only mustered up one run and suffered the loss.

Florida, ranked No. 1 in the nation, and Oklahoma, ranked No. 10, have won the past four WCWS championships. The Gators won it all in 2014 and 2015, but it is the Sooners who are the defending champions, taking the title in 2016, as well as in 2013.

Florida will look to stay alive in the series and avoid back-to-back losses for just the second time all season, and OU will look for its second consecutive title in Game Two, which is slated for Tuesday night at 8 p.m. on ESPN.