Maxwell didn’t look fatigued in Game 1 as she pitched all seven innings, recording eight strikeouts and allowing just four hits on 119 pitches. Her outing helped Oklahoma outlast Texas 8-3. Maxwell made it clear on Wednesday that she isn’t worried about her pitch count; she only has her eyes on the title.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso approached Kelly Maxwell and asked her if she wanted to pitch in Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series Championship Series.
Just under 30 hours earlier, Maxwell had thrown 148 pitches to help the Sooners narrowly escaped Florida and advance to the Championship Series. Despite that, Maxwell turned and looked at Gasso with an expression she wouldn’t forget.
“She looked at me like, Duh,” Gasso said with a smile. “I’m like, ‘Okay, we’re good.’ It’s fun to watch her live in the space right now. She’s having a blast. She’s pushing herself internally to places I don’t think she’s ever been before. It’s beautiful to see, really.”
Maxwell didn’t look fatigued in Game 1 as she pitched all seven innings, recording eight strikeouts and allowing just four hits on 119 pitches. Her outing helped Oklahoma outlast Texas 8-3 at Devon Park to move one win away from the Sooners’ fourth straight National Championship. Maxwell made it clear on Wednesday that she isn’t worried about her pitch count; she only has her eyes on the title.
“I think just the mental side of it,” Maxwell said postgame. “This is it. This is my last opportunity. I’m just going to do everything I can to keep this team in it. I know that they have my back and I got theirs. That side of it. Then physically, I’m doing good. The staff here is doing everything they can to keep me going and feeling good.”
After the Sooners lost in Game 1 against Florida in the WCWS semifinals, many asked why Maxwell wasn’t in the circle. Gasso answered saying she wants her entire pitching staff to be a part of the run and thinks Maxwell won’t be able to handle all of the burden on her own.
But the graduate senior has been dominant and hasn’t been fazed by the pressure. She’s given up just 11 hits over the past three games and has struck out 27 batters in her 22 innings pitched.
“I’m just super proud of her,” Hansen said, “and just kind of Kelly has always been a phenomenal pitcher, but I feel like she’s taken it to the next level just in her mental state of mind. She’s given it up to the Lord, I know that.
“The chemistry between a pitcher and a catcher is something that I love most about my job. Being able to watch her development, not only from the time I’ve been playing her, but just in this year alone, our connection that we’ve built, just the friendship, has been pretty amazing. It’s been paying off. So I’m just super proud of her. She’s been dominating. She’s throwing through all quadrants of the zone at all different speeds. She’s not letting her foot off the gas. I’m just super proud.”
If Maxwell is asked to pitch for the third consecutive day, Gasso knows the senior is going to jump at the opportunity.
“Her dream has been — she’s never been this far,” Gasso said, “and when now you’re in the championship series, adrenaline took over for her, as well. But she’s not going to walk away from this opportunity. Our training staff, Amar, Kennedy, our doctors have done a great job just getting her prepared for what’s coming. They’re going to continue to do it.”