Oklahoma Sooners take WCWS opener in 17 innings

The longest game in Women's College World Series history was one of the best.

Oklahoma first baseman Shay Knighten hit a three-run homer with two outs in the top of the 17th inning off Florida ace Kelly Barnhill, and for the first time on a wild Monday night, the Gators did not have an answer.

Knighten's 12th homer gave 10th-seed Oklahoma a three-run lead, and starter/reliever Paige Lowary struck out Kayli Kvistad with the tying runs on base for a 7-5 victory. Kvistad homered in each of the previous two games.

Thanks to the win in the longest game in the history of both programs, the Sooners grabbed the opener of the best-of-three WCWS title series at Oklahoma City. Game 2 series is Tuesday, and Game 3, if necessary, would be Wednesday.

Knighten said of the decisive at-bat, "I knew she was going to attack the zone, so I was like, 'Just swing. If you strike out, oh well. There is more game left.' It was unbelievable. I just wanted to do it for my seniors."

Oklahoma (60-9) has won 37 of its past 39 games, but this one might have been the most harrowing.

Top-seeded Florida (58-9) was down to its last strike in both the seventh and 12th innings before rallying to tie the game, first off reliever Paige Parker and then off Lowary, who pitched the first five innings before re-entering in the 12th.

Lowary pitched 10 1/3 innings, struck out six and walked one. She threw five innings before giving way to Parker. Lowary returned in the 12th inning with two outs and two on and gave up a double to Amanda Lorenz that tied the game at 4.

Oklahoma's Nicole Mendes singled with two outs in the 17th before Caleigh Clifton was hit by a pitch to bring up Knighten.

"I'll never forget this game as long as I live," Mendes said.

Florida loaded the bases with one out in the last of the 17th but scored only on Lorenz's sacrifice fly.

"We know Florida is a great team," Knighten said. "We know they are going to fight."

Gators third baseman Aleshia Ocasio said, "We're just going to have to fight harder tomorrow."

Florida lost the first game of its regional and super regional tournaments before advancing to the WCWS.

The four pitchers combined to throw 596 pitches -- 139 by Lowary, 128 by Barnhill, 121 by Gators reliever Delanie Gourley and 108 by Parker.

In the top of the 12th inning, Knighten doubled and designated player Fale Aviu hit a two-run homer to give the Sooners a 4-2 lead. Lorenz's double tied the score in the bottom of the frame.

Florida sent the game into extra innings with a run in the seventh inning. With two outs and a runner on first base, Sophia Reynoso hit a fly ball to medium left-center field that bounced out of diving left fielder Macey Hatfield's glove for an RBI double.

Mendes' bases-empty homer in the sixth inning gave the Sooners a 2-1 lead off Barnhill, who led the NCAA with an 0.34 ERA entering the game.

NOTES: The teams have won the last four World Series, Oklahoma in 2013 and 2016 and Florida in 2014 and 2015. ... Oklahoma was the only team with a comeback victory in the 12 games of pool play, overcoming a 2-0 deficit in a 4-2 victory over Oregon on Sunday. ... The Game 1 winner has won nine of the last 12 titles.