OU softball isn’t the unstoppable monster in 2024, but you’re still going to have to do something special to take it down.
Oregon gave it its best effort, but the Sooners was up to the task. A battle throughout, but it’s OU staying home for another weekend with a () victory against the Ducks to earn the Norman Regional championship Sunday at Love’s Field.
OU beat Oregon on Saturday and Sunday to advance to the Super Regional round. The Sooners have won 16 consecutive NCAA postseason games, dating back to the 2022 Women’s College World Series.
It’s the little things that separate the good from the great. For head coach Patty Gasso, though, defense is not a little thing.
And one of the sneaky plays of the game is when senior Rylie Boone was able to gun down an Oregon runner at the plate in the bottom of the third. Perfect tag by Kinzie Hansen, and the tie remained 2-2. The Ducks never led Sunday.
Off that outfield assist, OU was able to take the lead for good with an RBI single from co-captain Tiare Jennings in the top of the fourth.
Nicole May threw the first five innings for OU. The senior gave up five hits, one earned run, struck out six without a walk.
From there? It was Kelly Maxwell. Hit-and-miss in relief all season, this was a hit. A big one. Maxwell threw the final two frames to pick up the save and send the Sooners to the next round. Ended the seventh with a 1-2-3 and strikeout for final out.
Jayda Coleman had three hits and scored twice for OU.
Super Regional
No. 2 OU (52-6 overall) doesn’t quite know who it is playing yet. No. 15 Florida State and Auburn are playing later Sunday. If the Seminoles win, FSU will be headed to Norman. If not, FSU and Auburn will have the if game to see who is coming to Love’s Field. OU, of course, defeated Florida State in the championship series in 2021 and 2023.
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