Giselle Juarez and Oklahoma head into the Women’s College World Series final with loads of momentum. Same for Kaley Mudge and Florida State.
The Sooners and Seminoles also know a little something about coming up big in tense situations.
Juarez turned in another gem as Oklahoma beat Odicci Alexander and James Madison 7-1 on Monday. Mudge led the way as Florida State advanced with an 8-5 victory over Alabama.
Oklahoma and Florida State will meet in the best-of-three championship series starting Tuesday. The top-seeded Sooners (54-3) are going for their fifth national title. The 10th-seeded Seminoles (48-11-1) won their only World Series championship in 2018.
Each school followed a similar path to the final. They lost their openers at the Women’s College World Series, then reeled off four straight wins in elimination games.
Mudge went 5-for-5 to help Florida State rough up Alabama’s Montana Fouts. The star right-hander threw a perfect game against UCLA on Friday, but she struggled against the Seminoles.
Elizabeth Mason connected for a three-run homer in the first, and Mudge’s single knocked in Josie Muffley in the second. Kalei Harding tacked on a two-run single in the third, making it 6-0 and chasing Fouts.
