Women's College World Series: Oklahoma, UCLA win on walk-off homers; Texas, Texas Tech score opening victories
Texas and Florida matched up in the opener, followed by Tennessee versus Oklahoma in the afternoon. In the evening, Ole Miss faces Texas Tech while Oregon and UCLA close out the day.
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Three different games came down to the wire in the first day of WCWS action on Thursday in Oklahoma City. Here is how they played out.
UCLA 4, Oregon 2
The rain delay caused the traditional Big Ten clash between No. 9 UCLA and No. 16 Oregon to reach past midnight local time, but Jessica Clements delivered an ending worth the wait.
With the scored tied in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bruins center fielder connected for a walk-off homer to end a night of close games.
The game was only tied after a matter of controversy, as Oregon got its second run in the top of the seventh after a challenge turned an out at home plate into a safe call due to obstruction. You can be the judge if the umpires got it right.
UCLA will get Texas Tech on Saturday while Oregon faces Ole Miss in an elimination game.
Texas Tech 1, Ole Miss 0
After an hour-long rain delay, No. 12 Texas Tech picked up a narrow win over unseeded Ole Miss in a defensive battle. Texas Tech ace NiJaree Canady had a huge night, earning 10 strikeouts in the shutout victory.
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Both teams went hitless through the first three innings, before the Rebels' defense started to break down. Red Raiders first baseman Lauren Allred brought the drought with a single in the bottom of the fourth; a double from right fielder Alana Johnson, boosted by an error in the Ole Miss outfield, sent Allred home to give Texas Tech a 1-0 lead. Two more costly mistakes led to a full-bases opportunity for the Red Raiders, but catcher Lexie Brady pulled Ole Miss out of the inning with a double play.
Canady had a perfect first five innings, going 15 up, 15 down. But in the sixth inning, Ole Miss shortstop Angelina DeLeon spoiled the no-hitter by getting a single. The Red Raiders were able to close out the inning with two Red Raiders stranded on base.
Then, it came down to Canady, who finished the game how she started: with three straight strikeouts. Texas Tech held on to the one-run win.
The Red Raiders will now play UCLA on Saturday. Ole Miss, facing elimination, will square up against Oregon
Oklahoma 4, Tennessee 3
No. 2 seed Oklahoma began defense of its national championship with a 3-run walk-off home run by Ella Parker, giving the Sooners a 4-3 win in their WCWS opener over No. 7 Tennessee.
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The Vols jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning with Gabby Leach scoring on a passed ball by Sooners catcher Isabela Emerling. Sophia Nugent followed up with a sacrifice fly to score Taylor Pennell.
The Sooners came right back in the bottom of the first on a home run from Ella Parker. But that was all the offense that Oklahoma could manage against Tennessee pitcher Karlyn Pickens (24-9, 1.00 ERA). The junior right-hander allowed only that one run with two hits and five walks through six innings, but Oklahoma got a walk and single in the seventh to set up Parker's walk-off heroics.
Tennessee scored its third run when Ella Dodge scored on an error by Sooners left fielder Kasadi Pickering in the third, who couldn't hang onto a line drive from McKenna Gibson.
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Oklahoma starter Sam Landry (23-4. 1.92 ERA) allowed three runs (two earned) and five hits and two walks, also going seven innings. She only struck out two Tennessee batters after racking up 170 Ks in 167 2/3 innings coming into Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma faces Texas in the winners bracket on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, while Tennessee has to play Florida on Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
Texas 3, Florida 0
The No. 6 seed Texas Longhorns defeated the No. 3 seed Florida Gators, 3-0, to open the Women's College World Series on Thursday in Oklahoma City.
First baseman Joley Mitchell led the way for the Longhorns with two home runs, going back-to-back with left fielder Katie Stewart in the sixth inning. Mitchell opened the scoring with a solo shot in the second.
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Leading up to the WCWS, Mitchell hit 14 home runs with 60 RBI, ranking third among Longhorns batters in both categories. Stewart came into Thursday's game with 15 home runs and 76 RBI, in addition to a .370 batting average.
Teagan Kavan allowed only 2 hits over 7 innings with 2 walks and 1 strikeout. She went 24-5 for Texas with 4 shutouts and 14 complete games.
For Florida, Keagan Rothrock (16-7) gave up all 3 runs with 5 hits (including those 3 homers) in 5 innings.
Up next for Texas is Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon and Florida will face Tennessee on Friday evening.
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