Come to Queens, you better not miss it.
Texas had its chances early to derail the OU crown, looking to win the Women’s College World Series for the second straight season and sixth time in program history.
But the Longhorns’ early shot — two first-inning runs — was nothing more than a minor annoyance for the Sooners, who eventually swung out and Texas couldn’t do much to slow the inevitable. .
OU defeated the Longhorns 10-5 to sweep the WCWS Championship Series on Thursday night at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Sooners finished the season 59-3, one of the most dominant seasons in NCAA softball history.
For three innings, it looked like Texas might force a Game 3.
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They were giving OU starter Jordy Bahl adjustments at home plate and despite a series of leading hitters reaching base for the Sooners, the mighty OU bats couldn’t find a way to string together whatever. this is more about the Longhorns starter, Estelle Czech.
After Wednesday’s 16-1 thrashing by OU, Texas coach Mike White said it was nearly impossible to control the Sooners offense.
“We have to score points to beat them,” White said. “They’re going to put up numbers, four or five, we have to find a way to score seven. That’s how it is, you know.
The Longhorns rose to the challenge early, hitting the ball into the park when Bahl didn’t walk with the Texas batters.
Janae Jefferson led the bottom of the first with a hard jab through the middle before Mia Scott followed with a left.
After a walk, Alyssa Washington almost knocked the ball out of the park but instead ended up with a sacrifice fly.
Mary Iakopo put a charge on herself, driving one to the far reaches of center field before Jayda Coleman jumped up and fired her for the second out on another sacrificial fly that put the Longhorns ahead 2- 0.
Courtney Day, one of the WCWS stars for the Longhorns, went after it even more, this time from the left side of center.
But Coleman also found it, jumping even higher and depriving Day of a home run that would have given the Longhorns a 5-0 lead.
Instead, the OU’s deficit was just two.
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Bahl allowed two runners in the second and one in the third — obliterated on a double play that started with the diving snap of Sooners shortstop Grace Lyons — before settling.
It took the OU a little longer to get things done offensively.
The Sooners fielded the first batter in each of the first three innings, but couldn’t do anything against Texas’ Estelle Czech.
But then the floodgates opened.
OU tied the game in the fourth after Alyssa Brito started with a brace before an error allowed Brito to come back to score. Taylon Snow then tied it with an RBI single.
In the fifth, it was the bottom of the OU order who did it once against after Tiare Jennings scored a single and Lyon was hit by a pitch.
Brito gave the Sooners their first lead with an RBI brace and Kinzie Hansen followed with a three-run homer to put OU 6-2.
The Sooners then erased every chance of a game on Friday with four more in the sixth, the big hit a three-run homer by Lyon.
Then all that remained was to count the outs.
Bahl cruised through the first four innings, allowing just two hits after the first two batters got to her.
Then Nicole May came on to bring the game into the seventh, allowing just one hit.
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The bottom of round seven was dedicated to senior starts. Designated player Jocelyn Alo — the all-time home run hitter in NCAA history — was in left field and made the first two outs of the innings, catching pop flies. She was lifted with two outs and hugged her teammates as she left the field.
Earlier, Sooners coach Patty Gasso brought in Hope Trautwein to finish her off in the circle.
Trautwein, who grew up as a Texas fan in an Austin suburb, has long been the senior among OU’s top three pitchers and has become one of WCWS’ stars.
Trautwein was touched up by Scott for a three-run home run, but that only delayed the inevitable.
Fans at the park raised their phones at each duo toss to capture the celebration.
It finally happened, after a walk, when Washington softly touched Jennings on second. The moment Jennings’ throw hit Snow’s glove, the celebration began on the court.
In the best-of-three championship series sweep, OU defeated Texas 26-6.
In six WCWS games, the Sooners outscored their opponents 64-17.
No team had ever scored more than 49 points in the WCWS. No team other than the OU championship team last season had ever scored more than 47.
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WCWS Championship Series Schedule
Best-of-three series between OU and Texas:
Game 1:Oklahoma 16, Texas 1
Game 2: Oklahoma 10, Texas 5
After:How many OU softball championships has he won? The Sooners add to their WCWS tally
Former NCAA Softball Champions
2021: Oklahoma (56-4)
2020: Canceled due to the pandemic
2019: UCLA (56-6)
2018: Florida State (58-12)
2017: Oklahoma (61-9)
2016: Oklahoma (57-8)
2015: Florida (60-7)
2014: Florida (55-12)
2013: Oklahoma (57-4)
2012: Alabama (60-8)
2011: Arizona State (60-6)
2010: UCLA (50-14-1)
2009: Washington (51-12)
2008: Arizona State (66-5)
2007: Arizona (50-14-1)
2006: Arizona (54-11)
2005: Michigan (65-7)
2004: UCLA (47-9)
2003: UCLA (54-7)
2002: California (56-19)
2001: Arizona (65-4)
2000: Oklahoma (66-8)
1999: UCLA (63-6)
1998: Fresno State (52-11)
1997: Arizona State (61-5)
1996: Arizona (58-9)
1995: UCLA (50-6)
1994: Arizona (64-3)
1993: Arizona (44-8)
1992: UCLA (54-2)
1991: Arizona (56-16)
1990: UCLA (62-7)
1989: UCLA (48-4)
1988: UCLA (53-8)
1987: Texas A&M (56-8)
1986: California State Fullerton (57-9-1)
1985: UCLA (41-9)
1984: UCLA (45-6-1)
1983: Texas A&M (41-11)
1982: UCLA (33-7-2)
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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