Oklahoma’s pursuit of a fifth consecutive Women’s College World Series title got here to an finish Monday in a dramatic 3-2 defeat by the hands of Texas Tech. The Pink Raiders walked it off within the backside of the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly at hand the Sooners their second lack of the event and sprint their hopes of constructing a run by way of the losers bracket all the best way to the nationwide championship.
Texas Tech, with star pitcher and major NIL investment NiJaree Canady within the circle, snapped a 37-game shedding streak to Oklahoma and clinched a spot within the championship sequence with Texas within the course of.
TTU is now the primary program in WCWS historical past to succeed in the championship sequence in its debut journey to Oklahoma Metropolis since, coincidentally, the Sooners did so in 2000.
Canady cruised by way of six shutout innings and practically completed out the whole sport shutout. However the Sooners, with their dynasty on the road, would not go down quietly. They had been all the way down to their remaining strike when No. 9 hitter Abigale Dayton improbably launched a two-run dwelling run with two outs within the prime of the seventh to degree the rating at two.
Dayton’s clutch blast — simply her third homer of the season — saved the Sooners’ season alive, however solely briefly. Within the backside of the seventh, the Pink Raiders obtained a single from Mihyia Davis and a double from Hailey Toney, establishing the game-winning sacrifice fly from Lauren Allred, scoring Davis.
Canady, who transferred from Stanford, surrendered simply 5 hits and earned the win to stay unbeaten on the WCWS. The 2-time All-American fanned eight Sooners and allowed one stroll on 106 pitches.
It will likely be an all-Lone Star State championship sequence when Texas Tech meets Texas for a shot at its first nationwide title. Texas knocked off Tennessee earlier Monday to earn a spot within the championship sequence for the third time in 4 seasons. The Longhorns fell to Oklahoma in each 2022 and 2024.
Sport 1 of the best-of-three sequence will get underway at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday at OGE Power Discipline at Devon Park.