Oklahoma Beats Florida in Game 1 of College Softball World Series in 17 Innings

The Oklahoma Sooners prevailed in a marathon disguised as a softball game and are one win away from keeping the crown.

No. 10 Oklahoma took the first step in a best-of-three battle of heavyweights against the top-seeded Florida Gators with a thrilling 7-5 victory in Monday's 17-inning Game 1 of the College Softball World Series at OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma City.

Shay Knighten played the role of hero for the Sooners—who won national championships in 2013 and 2016—with a three-run homer in the 17th, while pitchers Paige Lowary and Paige Parker kept Florida—which won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015—in check.

ESPN shared the triumphant moment:

Knighten's long ball came more than five hours after the first pitch and was the critical blow in a historical contest. According to ESPN Stats & Info, the previous record for a Women's College World Series game was 13 innings between UCLA and Texas A&M in 1984.

Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin helped those who stayed up to watch the back-and-forth affair:

The game resembled a marathon for the pitchers more than anyone else considering there were only four who took the mound the entire game. Oklahoma started Lowary and went back to her in the 12th inning, while Florida started 2017 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Kelly Barnhill and brought her in again in the 16th.

In all, Lowary threw 10.1 innings and allowed just two earned runs, while her counterpart gave up five earned runs but struck out 13 in nine innings. Oklahoma's Parker (6.2 innings and three earned runs) and Florida's Delanie Gourley (two earned runs and 13 strikeouts in eight innings) also impressed in relief.

Knighten's home run completed an emotional roller coaster for the victorious Sooners because they had Florida down to its last strike in the bottom of the seventh and last out in the bottom of the 12th.

However, Sophia Reynoso notched a game-tying double in the seventh on what would have been a routine flyout if the outfield wasn't in no-doubles defense with Aleshia Ocasio on first, as ESPN captured:

The Gators' Amanda Lorenz knocked in two in the 12th after Oklahoma's Fale Aviu drilled a two-run homer in the top half of the frame. Lorenz's double was notable because Oklahoma went back to Lowary for a one-out save after Parker, who is typically a starter and the team's ace, pitched brilliantly in relief outside of Reynoso's bloop hit.

Before the late drama unfolded, the Gators appeared to be heading for a straightforward victory when Ocasio opened the scoring in the fourth with an RBI single. In many cases, one run is all it takes with Barnhill on the hill, but she allowed an RBI single to Sydney Romero in the fifth and a homer to Nicole Mendes in the sixth.

EspnW highlighted just how rare blown leads were for the Gators this season:

Overcoming an early deficit against the nation's best pitcher, the potentially devastating Florida runs in the seventh and 12th and missed bases-loaded opportunities in the 15th and 16th were additional examples of postseason resiliency for the Sooners.

They had their backs against the wall when they lost a shocker to North Dakota State in their regional opener at home but responded with four straight wins to advance, a sweep of Auburn in the super regional and an undefeated run in Oklahoma City to set up the showdown with Florida.

As for the Gators, a 1-0 deficit in the series represents familiar territory. They dropped their first contest of the super regional against Alabama and needed two straight wins just to reach Oklahoma City.

They are in the exact situation heading into Tuesday's Game 2 against Oklahoma.