School Sports activities
OKLAHOMA CITY \u2014 The Oklahoma Sooners<\/a> have claimed the primary four-peat in Women\u2019s College World Series<\/a> historical past.
It was the No. 1 Texas Longhorns versus the No. 2 Sooners for the title, however the defending champs by no means felt like a lot of an underdog. Oklahoma swept the championship collection 8-3 in Game 1<\/a> and 8-4 in Recreation 2.
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The Sooners went via practically their total pitching workers Thursday night time, however that appeared principally intentional. In a little bit of a stunning transfer, coach Patty Gasso gave graduate pupil Karlie Keeney the beginning \u2014 simply her fifth this season \u2014 and he or she pitched 2 2\/3 innings whereas permitting 4 hits and two runs.
Texas scored first with an RBI single by Kayden Henry within the second inning earlier than sophomore Paytn Monticelli got here in as reduction. Monticelli hadn\u2019t pitched since March 9 \u2014 and entered with the bases loaded and two outs \u2014 however escaped the inning with a floor out. Kierston Deal pitched one inning adopted by Nicole Might (1 2\/3 innings, one hit, one run, 4 Ks) earlier than ace Kelly Maxwell closed out the win (1 1\/3 innings, one hit, one Ok).
Oklahoma\u2019s bats had been sizzling for the second night time in a row, recording 12 hits. And whereas the Sooners paraded the bases \u2014 taking the lead within the backside of the second with a two-run homer from Kasidi Pickering earlier than delivering the dagger with three runs within the backside of the sixth \u2014 the Longhorns needed to combat for every rating.
Texas scored on three RBIs and one error. Baserunning missteps didn\u2019t assist the Longhorns shut the hole once they didn’t steal dwelling with a runner on third base after a wild pitch and Mia Scott stepping inside the primary bottom line after being known as protected on a bobble from second baseman Avery Hodge.
For more on Game 2 of the WCWS, follow <\/em>The Athletic\u2019s live blog.<\/em><\/a>
Oklahoma\u2019s 10-person senior class will go down as some of the adorned courses in school softball historical past.
The Sooners appeared extra weak this 12 months than throughout their final three nationwide championship runs, however expertise and Gasso\u2019s elite teaching reigned supreme in Oklahoma Metropolis. Parity has elevated within the sport, and subsequent season the Sooners will be part of the SEC \u2014 which appears primed to be the game\u2019s subsequent hotbed \u2014 however it doesn\u2019t appear to be the Oklahoma dynasty is slowing down any time quickly.
(Photograph: Brendall O\u2019Banon \/ NCAA<\/a> Images through Getty Photos)<\/em><\/p>\n