How Kelly Maxwell ‘Turned the Tide’ in Oklahoma’s Comeback Against Florida.
Kelly Maxwell faced significant challenges on Tuesday.
In her previous appearance at the Women’s College World Series, she shut out UCLA and struck out a season-high 11 batters in her most impressive performance of the season.
However, after three innings against Florida in an elimination game, the Sooner ace had already given up five runs on three home runs.
Kelly Maxwell
decided not to pull the graduate transfer, prompting Maxwell to dig deeper.
“I knew today was going to be tough,” Maxwell said after the 6-5, eight-inning victory over Florida on Tuesday. “I realized early on that I didn’t have my best stuff and needed to make adjustments mid-game.
“I flipped a switch, chose my fighter, and went to war. I focused on attacking and refused to go down without a fight.”
Maxwell didn’t allow a run in the final four innings, finishing the afternoon with eight strikeouts while giving up only four hits and five walks.
Florida coach Tim Walton recognized there was a narrow window to exploit the lefty.
“If you listen to my pregame radio clips, I said, ‘You better get Kelly Maxwell early.’ If you don’t get her early, you’re not getting her late,” Walton said. “That’s how she operates.
“Whether it’s her DNA, her pitching coach, or something else, she’s been like that her whole career. Once she settles in, she gets tough. When she’s unsettled, she can give up some runs.”
Reagan Walsh’s solo home run in the third inning, the third of the day, put the Gators ahead 5-2.
Maxwell got out of the inning and immediately consulted with pitching coach Jennifer Rocha about the game plan.
“I sat down with Coach Rocha, and we discussed what was happening and what needed to change,” Maxwell said. “I took it personally. I knew this team would fight back, and I aimed to keep us in the game as long as possible.”
The conversation between Rocha and Maxwell had a profound impact on the entire dugout.
“It was like something in her said, ‘Stop. I need to be more competitive.’ You could feel it, and so could the team,” Gasso said. “It helped rally the offense. They’d score, we’d score. It was back and forth. It’s frustrating, but you have to trust your pitcher and pitching coach. We all do.”
Maxwell’s ability to stop the bleeding allowed Oklahoma to edge back into the game.
Freshman Ella Parker tied the game in the first and again in the sixth, and Jayda Coleman walked it off in the eighth.
Oklahoma’s senior class lived to fight another day, with the Sooners set to face Texas in Game 1 of the WCWS Championship Series at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Gasso’s team continues their quest for a fourth consecutive title. OU has extensive experience in championship games.
Maxwell is new to this final stage of the NCAA Tournament.
She previously pitched in the WCWS three times with Oklahoma State, but the Cowgirls fell one game short of facing OU in the 2022 Championship Series.
Now, she’ll be a key player as the Sooners aim to end the season atop the softball world once more.
“The fact that Kelly is going to be playing in a national championship game is one of the highlights of our season,” Gasso said.
