Lonni Alameda explains how Kathryn Sanderock's experience is key against Oklahoma in WCWS

Although Kathryn Sandercock was on the bench during Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series championship series, Florida State coach Lonni Alameda opted to keep her on the bench unless the Seminoles took the lead. That didn’t happen as Oklahoma won 5-0 — and Alameda knew who she had to turn to in Game 2.

Sandercock, the All-ACC pitcher and All-American, got the start in the circle with FSU’s season on the line. A victory would force a winner-take-all Game 3 against the hottest team in the nation. A loss means Oklahoma wins its third straight title and the Seminoles come up short.

Alameda knows Sandercock can handle it, though. The fifth-year senior appeared in all three games when Florida State and Oklahoma squared off in the 2021 championship series. That experience, Alameda said, is critical in big moments like Thursday night.

“She’s just excited for this moment,” Alameda told ESPN’s Holly Rowe ahead of the fourth inning. “She’s worked really hard being able to spread the zone from rise, drop to change. So knowing when you get these kind of hitters that you’ve got to be able to give them a different look at different times. Being able to rely on the rise ball in that moment was huge for us. That’s why you spend all that time all summer long and all offseason to do that. It shows up in these moments.”

The Florida State defense has also made some key plays in the series, including a third-inning throw home by Mack Leonard to cut down the Oklahoma baserunner and keep the Sooners off the board. In Game 1, Kaley Mudge made an impressive home run robbery to fight off a run rule in the sixth inning.

Although Alameda noted the hostile environment with so many Oklahoma fans in attendance, she kept it in perspective. She told her team they’re not all Sooners fans in the stands, but they’re also not all Seminoles fans.

They’re softball fans.

“This is a great environment,” Alameda said. “Last night got us a little bit. I think for the returners, they’re comfortable. But for our newbies — I know Kat’s been in this moment over and over again. Not many people get this where the state of Oklahoma’s here in town to celebrate their team.

“But it’s really special and as long as we can keep looking at it [as] they love softball and they’re not against us, and I think that’s what we talked about this morning. Let’s just play some softball and really enjoy that everyone loves softball here.”