Florida vs. Oklahoma softball final score, results: Jayda Coleman’s walk-off blast sends Sooners to WCWS final

By | June 4, 2024
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It didn’t take much for Jayda Coleman to lift her line drive toward the outfield grass. It kinda comes naturally to her. After all, she’s a four-time All-American and three-time national champion who has a career .719 slugging percentage to her name.

But as her shot approached the outfield wall, she didn’t exactly know what to expect. Then, in an instant, the glimmering neon green ball receded behind the barrier, escaping Florida outfielder Korbe Otis’ desperate leap. The Sooners had won. The Gators had lost. And Coleman, a mercurial outfielder who only one at-bat earlier was slamming her bat in frustration after popping out, was the hero.

Coleman’s walk-off blast was the difference on Tuesday afternoon as Oklahoma advanced to its fourth consecutive Women’s College World Series final, outgunning No. 6-seeded Florida 6-5 in extra innings.

It wasn’t the smoothest performance for the Sooners (60-4), who fell behind early after Jocelyn Erickson and Ariel Kowalewski went deep in the opening two innings.

Oklahoma continued to try to keep it close, putting its first runs on the board with Ella Parker’s mash. Nevertheless, UF’s offense continued to flex its might; another home run looked like it could be the Sooners’ death knell.

That is, until OU came to life. It started in the bottom of the fourth, when Cydney Sanders took a misshapen Keagan Rothrock effort deep to cut the Gators lead to one.

Two innings later, the Sooners were back into it. Freshman phenom Ella Parker drove in the game-tying run with a worm-burner into the gap.

Things remained even into extras. Then, Coleman found life, took Rothrock’s effort into right field and didn’t look back. Now awaits a date with longtime Big 12 rivals: No. 1-seeded Texas.

For now, though, rest will do. For the first time in what feels like millennia, Oklahoma faced off against a formidable challenge. Greater tests may await, but for now, the Sooners would do well to celebrate a little.

The Sporting News tracked live updates from Tuesday’s Women’s College World Series seminal clash between Florida and Oklahoma. Follow below to see all the action as it happened from a thrilling day at the ballpark in Oklahoma City.

MORE: Watch the 2024 Women’s College World Series on Fubo

Florida vs. Oklahoma softball score

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 F
Florida 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 5
Oklahoma 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 6

Florida vs. Oklahoma live updates, highlights from Women’s College World Series

(All times Eastern)

End of eighth inning: Oklahoma 6, Florida 5

5:07 p.m.: HOME RUN! Coleman ends it with a solo blast to opposite field! Oklahoma is moving on to the Women’s College World Series final against Texas!

Oklahoma 6, Florida 5

5:06 p.m.: Coleman leads off as Rothrock goes past the 150-pitch mark.

5:03 p.m.: Kowalewski grounds out to second. Once again, the Sooners have a chance to walk things off.

5:01 p.m.: Brown’s chopper falls into Brito’s lap. Two outs.

5:00 p.m.: Falby grounds out to kick off extras. Brown struts into the batter’s box now.

End of seventh inning: Florida 5, Oklahoma 5

4:57 p.m.: Hodge flies out.We head to extras.

4:56 p.m.: Sanders goes down on strikes. Hodge returns to the plate.

4:53 p.m.: Rothrock intentionally walks Boone. Will set up a date with Sanders, who has already taken her deep. Two on, one out. The goal for the Gators is simple: coax Sanders — a slower base-runner — into a double play.

4:52 p.m.: Freshman Pickering comes up huge, slapping the ball into the outfield wall. She makes it to second base. Boone has a chance at winning it for OU.

4:51 p.m.: Hansen grounds out. Pickering struts to the plate.

4:45 p.m.: Walsh flies out. OU has a chance to walk it off in the bottom half.

4:44 p.m.: Maxwell mows down the first two batters, getting Erickson to whiff on the filthy changeup.

End of sixth inning: Florida 5, Oklahoma 5

4:38 p.m.: Brito lines out to end the inning. We are on to the seventh.

4:36 p.m.: TIE GAME! Parker takes care of business. Simple swing puts the ball on a line to center field. It falls in front of Falby and drives in Hodge. We are tied up!

Florida 5, Oklahoma 5

4:35 p.m.: Jennings walked on four straight pitches. Parker returns to the plate to face off against Rothrock in a major spot. Two on. Two away. She’s got a homer and double so far. If she can get some good wood on here, the Sooners might go out in front.

4:33 p.m.: Coleman surprisingly swings away on the first pitch. Her effort falls harmlessly into Wallace’s glove. Coleman doesn’t look too pleased. Jennings up to the plate now.

4:31 p.m.: Hodge makes magic happen in the No. 9 hole, ripping a double into right field. Tying run in scoring position.

4:29 p.m.: Sanders heads back to the dugout after floating a weak liner into second.

4:24 p.m.: Maxwell gets out of the inning! Coaxes a soft grounder which Sanders handles easily. To the bottom half we go!

4:22 p.m.: Falby does it again! Legs out an infield single to set the table for star slugger Wallace. Runners on the corner. Two away.

4:21 p.m.: Impressive grab by Brito, who comes from third base to nab the pop fly that dropped towards home base. One out to go for the Sooners to get out of the inning.

4:19 p.m.: Kowalewski grounds out. It does advance the runner into scoring position, however.

4:18 p.m.: Brown walks to lead the frame.

End of fifth inning: Florida 5, Oklahoma 4

4:11 p.m.: Boone flies out to left-center. Yet another RISP left stranded for the Sooners as the inning comes to a close.

4:08 p.m.: Rothrock walks Pickering on five pitches. Rylie Boone steps to the bag with runners on the corner and two gone. Will be interesting to see if Pickering — a serious threat on the base paths — will be instructed to attempt to take second at some point this at-bat.

4:06 p.m.: Hansen sends it to the warning track before it falls into UF hands. Baserunner Maya Bland advances to third on the fly out. Two gone in the inning.

4:05 p.m.: Brito flies out to left. Hansen up to bat now.

4:02 p.m.: The umps rule that Wallace did obstruct the bag. The Sooners are permitted to put a pinch runner on at second. Could be a huge call. Brito steps up with the tying run in scoring position and zero outs.

3:58 p.m.: Major collision at second base as Parker attempts to stretch a single into a double. Both took serious shots there. Fortunately, both appear to okay. The umpires are deliberating to determine whether Wallace was obstructing the plate or not.

3:54 p.m.: Kistler got decent wood on the 3-2 pitch. But it nestled calmly into Coleman’s glove in center field. Sooners return to the plate in the bottom half.

3:50 p.m.: Maxwell beginning to lose her control a bit. After whizzing past the first two batters of the inning with relative ease, she’s walked two on. Kistler steps to home plate hoping to make her pay. Interestingly enough, this is the first time the Gators have had a runner in scoring position. Such is life when you live by the long ball.

End of fourth inning: Florida 5, Oklahoma 4

3:36 p.m.: Jennings pops out. Rothrock and the Gators get out of the frame with their lead intact.

3:35 p.m.: Coleman takes first via walk. Now, the go-ahead run is in the box. Her name? Tiare Jennings. One on, two away. Pressure is on for Rothrock.

3:27 p.m.: HOME RUN! The Sooners are right back in it! After Kasidi Pickering got on base with a lead-off single, Cydney Sanders cracked a meatball into the cheap seats! OU has pulled Florida’s lead to one!

Florida 5, Oklahoma 4

3:22 p.m.: Maxwell gets out the inning unscathed, recording a 1-2-3 inning of her own.

End of third inning: Florida 5, Oklahoma 2

3:16 p.m.: Rothrock gets out the inning in nine pitches. Florida maintains its advantage as we head for the fourth frame.

3:10 p.m.: Maxwell gets out of the inning after Brito scoops up Brown’s grounder. Onto the bottom half we go.

3:07 p.m. Looks like the Gators are getting a read on the pitches as they come in. Consistently putting up exit velocities exceeding 70 mph. Katie Kistler gets on the board, rifling a whistler that spurned Jennings’ grasp.

3:06 p.m.: HOME RUN! Maxwell’s run comes to an end! Reagan Walsh just places her moonshot past the right field wall as the Gators add to their lead. Third homer in as many innings for UF.

Florida 5, Oklahoma 2

3:05 p.m.: Maxwell looks to have found her rhythm, whiffing five straight batters since giving up that two-run jack to Kowalewski.

End of second inning: Florida 4, Oklahoma 2

2:58 p.m.: Jennings pops out to end the frame. OU unable to capitalize on its growing threat.

2:55 p.m.: Perfectly-placed bunt by Coleman — with two outs, no less — brings runners on the corners for Jennings. Tense times for Gators fans.

2:53 p.m.: Rothrock appeared on the precipice of a 1-2-3 inning. However, Avery Hodge’s dribbler — coupled with a Mia Williams error —puts a runner on second with two outs.

2:43 p.m.: Wallace goes down on strikes to end the frame.

2:38 p.m.: HOME RUN! Another left-hander, another home run! Freshman Ariel Kowalewski pulls it into the left-field bleachers as the Gators bring their advantage back to two runs.

Florida 4, Oklahoma 2

2:34 p.m.: Maxwell surrenders a second lead-off walk in as many innings. Ava Brown takes first base.

End of first inning: Florida 2, Oklahoma 2

2:30 p.m.: Crucial double play keeps things at 2 for the Sooners. 

2:25 p.m.: The extra base brigade continues for the Sooners as Alyssa Brito places one into the outfield grass before taking two.

2:23 p.m.: HOME RUN! Another southpaw goes yard! This time, it’s Parker, who turns Rothrock’s slider into smithereens. We might be in for a treat!

Florida 2, Oklahoma 2

2:22 p.m.: Jennings making Rothrock go deep into her duffel as she tries to put her away. After a whopping 12 pitches, Jennings slaps a dribbler into the outfield and gets into second base for the double. Ella Parker has a chance to drive her in.

2:17 p.m.: Rothrock puts Jayda Coleman away on four pitches. The curveball did her in.

2:15 p.m.: The half-inning comes to a close with a whimper. But the damage is done. Erickson’s blast has opened the scoring. Let’s see if Oklahoma can get some barrels going and get back into it in the bottom half.

2:11 p.m.: HOME RUN! Erickson unloads on Maxwell’s rise ball, sending it into the left field bleachers. She gets one against her former team! And it gives the Gators a 2-0 lead!

Florida 2, Oklahoma 0

2:10 p.m.: Korbe Otis grounds into a fielder’s choice. One on, one away. Erickson up to the plate.

2:09 p.m.: Wallace always a threat on the base paths. You’d have to imagine that Tim Walton will try to take advantage of her speed sooner rather than later today.

2:08 p.m.: Skylar Wallace steps to the plate to lead things off. She proceeds to coax a walk with five pitches. Have to imagine Patty Gasso’s coaching staff has made it abundantly clear that Wallace is a problem at the plate.

Pregame

2:00 p.m.: Kelly Maxwell takes the ball for the Sooners. Reagan Rothrock returns to the mound for the Gators. Here we go…

1:45 p.m.: Here’s a look at both teams’ starting lineups ahead of today’s rubber match.

1:30 p.m.: Plenty of (eccentric) fans from both sides making the journey to Oklahoma City for this one. For their sakes, let’s hope it’s a modern-day classic.

12:55 p.m.: Among the biggest storylines to look out for is Jocelyn Erickson, the former Sooner whose ascendancy as Florida’s most dangerous hitter has put the Gators on the brink of history. For more about Erickson’s decision to swap Boomer maroon for the lush blue-and-orange of UF, check out this story by TSN’s Brendan O’Sullivan.

12:45 p.m.: Here’s hoping for a far smoother day at Devon Park – OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma City. Rain could descend into the region later in the day. But for now, things should be fairly clean.

How to watch Florida vs. Oklahoma softball

  • Start time: 2 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo

Florida and Oklahoma are set to face off at 2 p.m. ET from Devon Park – OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma City. Fans can tune in for the elimination game on ESPN or stream it on ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Women’s College World Series schedule 2024

Thu., May 30

Game Matchup/Results Time (ET) TV/Live stream
Game 1 (6) UCLA 4, (14) Alabama 1 Noon ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+
Game 2 (2) Oklahoma 9, (10) Duke 1 2:30 p.m. ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+
Game 3 (1) Texas 4, (8) Stanford 0 7 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+
Game 4 (4) Florida 1, (5) Oklahoma State 0 9:30 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+

Fri., May 31

Game Matchup/Results Time (ET) TV/Live stream
Game 5 (14) Alabama 2, (10) Duke 1 7 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo, ESPN+
Game 6 (8) Stanford 8, (5) Oklahoma State 0 9:30 p.m. ESPN2, Fubo

Sat., June 1

Game Matchup/Results Time (ET) TV/Live stream
Game 7 (2) Oklahoma 1, (6) UCLA 0 3 p.m. ABC, Fubo, ESPN+
Game 8 (1) Texas 10, (4) Florida 0 (5 inn.) 7 p.m. ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+

Sun., June 2

Game Matchup/Results Time (ET) TV/Live stream
Game 9 (4) Florida 6, (14) Alabama 4 3 p.m. ABC, Fubo, ESPN+
Game 10 (8) Stanford 3, (6) UCLA 1 7 p.m. ESPNU, Fubo, ESPN+

Monday, June 3

Time (ET) Game TV/Live stream
Game 11 (4) Florida 9, (2) Oklahoma 3 ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+
Game 12 (1) Texas 1, (8) Stanford 0 ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+

Tuesday, June 4

Time (ET) Game TV/Live stream
2 p.m. (4) Florida vs. (2) Oklahoma  ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+

Wed., June 5

Game Matchup/Results Time (ET) TV/Live stream
WCWS Final Game 1 (1) Texas vs. TBD 8 p.m. ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+

Thu., June 6

Game Matchup/Results Time (ET) TV/Live stream
WCWS Final Game 2 (1) Texas vs. TBD 8 p.m. ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+

Fri., June 7

Game Matchup/Results Time (ET) TV/Live stream
WCWS Final Game 3 (if necessary) (1) Texas vs. TBD 8 p.m. ESPN, Fubo, ESPN+

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