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Florida takes WCWS opener from Oklahoma State in pitcher’s duel

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Florida takes WCWS opener from Oklahoma State in pitcher’s duel


OKLAHOMA CITY — Katie Kistler hit a solo homer for the game’s only run and Keagan Rothrock threw a two-hitter as No. 4 seed Florida defeated No. 5 Oklahoma State 1-0 on Thursday night in the Women’s College World Series opener for both teams.

“What a great game,” Florida coach Tim Walton said. “Kind of a good old-fashioned softball game. Something we haven’t seen in a long time.”

Rothrock, a freshman, struck out three and walked two. She threw just 94 pitches to claim the win for the Gators (52-13). It was her 31st victory of the season, which ties her for the nation’s lead.

Oklahoma State’s Lexi Kilfoyl, a first-team National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American and a top-three finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, took the loss. She allowed just two hits and struck out five in six innings. It was just her fourth loss in 30 decisions this season.

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“I really think it was a good softball game,” Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski said. “We just came up on the wrong end. They had the one big blow. It felt like a dogfight right from the start. I thought both pitchers were extremely sharp.”

Kilfoyl took a no-hitter into the fifth before Kistler’s blast. Kistler immediately raised her right arm and pointed her index finger to the sky after connecting. It was just her fifth homer of the season.

“All I felt was just straight joy looking at my teammates, everybody jumping up and down,” Kistler said. “I was happy to do it for my team and Keagan, as well, pitching her butt off that game.”

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Florida will play No. 1 seed Texas on Saturday, with the winner heading to the semifinals.

Oklahoma State will play No. 8 Stanford on Friday in an elimination game. The World Series is a double-elimination tournament in bracket play before it shifts to a best-of-three format for the championship series.

“Got our work cut out for us here,” Gajewski said. “But I like what this team has always done, and that’s respond. That’s all we can do at this point.”

Oklahoma State had a chance to possibly produce some offense with the game still scoreless. With the bases empty and one out in the fifth, Oklahoma State’s Lexi McDonald got a hold of a Rothrock pitch and drove it to the wall. Florida’s Kendra Falby caught it and ran into the fence, where Korbe Otis immediately hugged her. Oklahoma State did not score in the inning.

“Just going out there and being like, ‘I’m going to catch every ball,’” Falby said. “That’s all I was focused on. Like everything kind of just went, sound, and then it was just me and the ball. All I thought about was catching at that moment. I wanted to keep the game 0-0 again for Keagan because she was pitching amazing.”

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    No. 1 Texas shuts out Stanford in Women’s College World Series opener
    Oklahoma opens quest for WCWS four-peat with blowout win over Duke

Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.



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Oklahoma

Flooded roads prompt travel warnings across Northeast Oklahoma

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Flooded roads prompt travel warnings across Northeast Oklahoma


NOWATA COUNTY, Okla. –

Nowata County Emergency Management is urging motorists to avoid several roads across the county as flooding continues following recent heavy rainfall.

Officials reported water over a bridge on County Road 408 south of Road 2, between Roads 2 and 3.

Roads to Avoid
Emergency management officials issued the following road advisories:

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  • Road 21 between Roads 420 and 419
  • Road 419 north of U.S. Highway 60
  • Road 420 between Roads 27 and 28
  • Road 27 west of Road 421 near Panther Creek

Officials say these roads should be avoided because of flooding.

Road 2 Closed
Emergency management also announced that Road 2 (EW 2) is closed.

Officials said some areas of the roadway have approximately 12 inches of standing water.

Drivers are encouraged to avoid flooded roadways and seek alternate routes until water recedes.





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523 animals rescued in SE Oklahoma City meth bust, animal welfare overwhelmed

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523 animals rescued in SE Oklahoma City meth bust, animal welfare overwhelmed


OKLAHOMA CITY –

Resources at Oklahoma City’s Animal Welfare are stretched thin after taking in more than 500 animals in an emergency rescue. Police arrested four people and saved the animals on Thursday in a methamphetamine bust at a home near southeast 15th and High Avenue.

FIRST REPORTED: Four arrested after 30 pounds of meth, hundreds of animals seized from Oklahoma City home

Oklahoma City’s Development Services Director Brock Rowe answered questions about the largest animal seizure in the city’s history.

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How many animals were rescued and what species were found?

Animal control officers rescued 523 animals. There were about 470 ducks, chickens, pigeons, and peacocks gathered from the property. Officers took 49 dogs, an unspecified number of cats, one horse, and reptiles.

What is the latest on the animals’ health and condition?

The animals were “taken care of pretty good” and did not appear to be severely abused of malnourished. The situation is believed to be animal hoarding, meaning there were simply too many animals on the property. Staff worked overnight to ensure the animals have food, clean water, bedding and proper car.

What resources is the shelter using to care for so many animals?

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The shelter is using temporary crates, kennels, and indoor spaces to accommodate the overflow, especially for birds, while larger animals like the horse are kept outside. Animal welfare officials are reaching out to local partners and organizations that specialize in livestock and birds to help house and care for some of the animals. The shelter is running a “name your price” adoption event to quickly move existing animals out and free up space.

Are the animals considered evidence, and when could they become available for adoption or transfer?

The animals are currently on hold as evidence, and adoption or transfer will only happen after the legal process determines when they can be released.

What is the status of the criminal investigation, and are additional charges expected?

Police arrested four men on drug trafficking complaints during the warrant search. No word if the men will face charges for the animals.

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Texas A&M makes massive splash in transfer portal landing Oklahoma LHP

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Texas A&M makes massive splash in transfer portal landing Oklahoma LHP


Texas A&M baseball made a massive splash in the transfer portal Friday morning with the pickup of a premier left-hander from a Southeastern Conference foe.

Oklahoma southpaw Trent Collier is returning to his home state to play for the Aggies in 2027, according to reports from TexAgs’ Richard Zane. Collier pitched for the national-championship-winning Sooners this past season, posting a 3.80 ERA through 23.2 innings pitched and striking out 28 hitters. He was called upon for two appearances in Oklahoma’s postseason run to the national title, allowing no hits with two strikeouts against Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

Collier will come to Bryan-College Station to pitch for the Fightin’ Texas Aggies as a junior for head coach Michael Earley in 2027.

Rebuilding a depleted pitching staff was one of the top priorities for Earley this offseason, after posting a 5.24 team ERA in 2026. Collier is the sixth pitcher to commit to the Aggies out of the transfer portal and the ninth overall addition.

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The lefty from Prosper, Texas, began his college career at Weatherford Junior College before landing with the Sooners. He made eight appearances, including nine starts, and earned second-team all-conference for recording a 2.65 ERA and 85 strikeouts across 68.0 innings.

After the program parted ways with Jason Kelly, following the regional final loss to USC in College Station, new pitching coach Barry Enright has reeled in some of the top-rated pitchers in the country this offseason, including Collier. The former Sooners star will have the opportunity to develop under Enright, who had stints in the MLB with the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.





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