Kelly Maxwell showed up in a big way in the biggest game of the season thus far for the Oklahoma Sooners, throwing a complete-game two-hitter to help OU beat UCLA 1-0 and advance to the Women’s College World Series semifinals.
The performance came less than 24 hours after Oklahoma State was knocked out of the WCWS on Friday night in Oklahoma City.
Maxwell was asked after the game by ESPN what she was proud of today, to which Maxwell said, “I’m just proud of this team and proud I made this decision.”
Maxwell controversially transferred to OU after the 2023 college softball season.
At the time, Maxwell talked about how difficult the decision was then, leaving the school she’d called home for the last four seasons.
“This was not an easy decision but one that I felt was best, for my own personal happiness,” Maxwell wrote on social media last August. “Thank you for being there and supporting me as I made some of the best memories of my life.”
On Saturday, Maxwell finished with a career-best 11 strikeouts and improved to 21-2 on the season as the Sooners needed this performance from their ace, as the only run of the day came on a solo home run from Tiara Jennings, her 23rd of the season which came in the third inning.
OU has won 10-straight WCWS games, 20-straight NCAA Tournament games and 23-straight games at Devon Park.
The Sooners advanced to the Women’s College World Series semifinals for an eighth-straight season and will play on Monday at noon against either Alabama, Texas, or Florida.
