Coach Patty Casso and the second-ranked OU softball team look to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Women’s College World Series title Thursday night against top-ranked Texas.
The Sooners beat the Longhorns 8-3 in Wednesday’s opener.
Here’s what you need to know about Game 2 of the WCWS final between the Sooners (58-7) and the Longhorns (55-9):
Further:Relive OU Softball’s run to three straight WCWS titles with our ‘Crimson Empire’ book
OU vs Texas Softball Live Score Updates in Game 2 of the WCWS Finals
Live Notifications:Texas vs. Oklahoma Softball Game 2 Score, WCWS Finals Highlights
First 7: OU 8, Texas 4
Kelly Maxwell is back in the ring, trying to close out the title win.
Viviana Martinez was the first out.
Reese Atwood swings for the second out.
Katie Stewart struck out in the third to seal the Sooners’ fourth-straight NCAA title.
— Jeff Patterson, staff writer
Further:OU softball held off Texas for its fourth straight WCWS championship
Bottom 6: OU 8, Texas 4 | Add run insurance soon
After Riley Boone singled, Sidney Sanders walked and Avery Hodge was hit by a pitch, the Sooners were in the top of the order with just one out.
Jayda Coleman gave the Sooners some much-needed insurance with an RBI single to right to make it 6-4 OU.
Tiare Jennings came in for the second out.
Ella Parker then broke it open with a double to center.
After a walk to Alyssa Brito loaded the bases, Kinsey Hansen had a shot to end the game via the run rule with a walk-off grand slam, but she grounded out to third to end the inning.
The Sooners are three outs from their eighth straight NCAA softball championship.
— Jeff Patterson, staff writer
First 6: OU 5, Texas 4 | Kelly Maxwell acquits Nicole May of two on, two out
After an Ashton Maloney double put Longhorns runners on second and third with two outs, OU coach Patty Casso singled to left.
Kelly Maxwell, who had pitched gems the previous two days, came on in relief for Nicole May.
Mia Scott reached second with an RBI infield single, but a huge base-running error ended the inning.
Scott rounded first after Avery Hodge hit the ball and was tagged out to send the game into the sixth for a 5-4 OU lead.
— Jeff Patterson, staff writer
Result 5: OU 5, Texas 3 | OU can’t add Citlaly Gutierrez to lead
OU got a two-out walk by Alyssa Prieto, but the Sooners took a two-run lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Sidlali Gutierrez came on in relief for the Longhorns, striking out Tiare Jennings and Ella Parker before striking out Brito and ground out Kinsey Hanson to end the inning.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Mid-5: OU 5, Texas 3 | Nicole May had a quick innings
Nicole May had a big hit in her first inning of relief, using her changeup to keep Texas tied, striking out two in a one-two-three frame.
May struck out Katie Stewart and Alyssa Washington swinging after the leadoff ground.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Result 4: OU 5, Texas 3 | Sidney Sanders leads the Sooners
Sidney Sanders’ only two hits in this WCWS were home runs.
But Sanders broke that stretch in the fourth inning, loading the bases and belting a bases-clearing double to right center to put the Sooners up 5-3.
Kinsey Hansen, Cassidy Pickering and Riley Boone scored before Sanders reached out and punched Estelle Czech’s 2-2 chance into the gap.
After Alyssa Brito flew out on the warning track to start the inning, the Sooners scraped together a rally.
Hansen hit a slow chopper to left, Pickering to right and Boone to load the bases.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Mid-4: Texas 3, OU 2 | The Longhorns take the lead
Avery Hodge was outstanding at second base for the Sooners.
But in the fourth inning, Hodge couldn’t handle Mia Scott’s sharp grounder to put the Longhorns up 3-2.
The unearned run came against Kiersten Diehl, the Sooners’ third pitcher of the game.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Result 3: OU 2, Texas 2 | Ella Parker almost gets another one
OU freshman Ella Parker gave the Sooners a two-run lead, hitting Estelle Cech’s 2-1 pitch over the wall in right-center field and looking for it before the inning ended.
Avery Hodge opened the inning with a single. Each of the next two batters moved her, but the Sooners couldn’t break it open.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
First 3: OU 2, Texas 2 | Paytn Monticelli comes into relief
Carly Keeney struck out the first two batters in the third.
Then things started to slide for her.
The Longhorns had back-to-back two-out singles before Keaney Katie Stewart.
Texas starter Alyssa Washington tied it by hitting a hard grounder up the middle, the ball eluding the outstretched glove of Tiare Jennings.
However, the Longhorns could only manage one run, and Sooners coach Patty Casso left the bullpen with sophomore Payton Monticelli.
Monticelli has not appeared in a game since May 9 against Kansas.
Monticelli struggled with her command in the start before Jolie Mitchell struck out to end the inning.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Further:Why was Oklahoma softball called Riley Boone vs. Texas? WCWS Basic Running Rules, Explained
Bottom 2: OU 2, Texas 1 | Cassidy Pickering homers to give the Sooners the lead
Freshman Cassidy Pickering hit another WCWS home run, this time a two-run homer to put the Sooners up 2-1.
Pickering jumped on the first pitch of Mac Morgan’s at-bat, a high drop.
Pickering also had a hit in Wednesday’s win over the Longhorns.
With the home run, Pickering and Ella Parker are the first freshmen in OU history with at least 10 home runs and 50 RBIs.
Alyssa Prieto opened the inning with a double off the center field wall, then Pickering put OU ahead two batters later.
With two outs, Avery Hodge drew an apparent walk to put OU runners on first and second.
But OU’s Riley Boone left first base early, and after a review, Boone was called out to end the inning.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Further:How OU softball freshman Cassidy Pickering’s quiet confidence anchors Texas against WCWS team
Middle-2: Texas 1, OU 0 | The Longhorns break first
Carly Keeney walked first and was unhurt.
Second, she was not lucky.
After Keaney walked two, Kayden Henry hit a single to right and Reece Atwood scored to give the Longhorns a 1-0 lead.
Avery Hodge made another strong defensive play to end the inning, jumping into the race and quickly flipping to Sydney Saunders to retire the side.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Result 1: OU 0, Texas 0 | Jayda Coleman’s leadoff single can’t be used soon enough
Jayda Coleman advanced to third with a rocket shot by Texas starter Mac Morgan.
Mia Scott got a glove on Coleman’s hit, but it was out when Coleman reached on an infield single.
But Tiare Jennings and Ella Parker followed with a grounder, Jennings made a fielder’s choice to retire Coleman and Parker led into a double play that ended the game scoreless.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Mid-1: Avery Hodge with another great defensive performance
Avery Hodge is making the most of his opportunity, making his fourth straight start since the injury to Alaina Torres.
Hodge hit a Viviana Martinez grounder, caught it right at second base, quickly touched base and fired to first for a double play to end the first inning.
It was the latest strong defensive performance by Hodge, who had two key plays on the field in Wednesday’s win.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Oklahoma vs Texas Starting Lineup for Game 2 of WCWS Finals
Avery Hodge is in the starting lineup for OU at second base, replacing Alina Torres.
— Jeff Patterson, staff writer
Uni-Watch: New look for OU softball at Texas in Game 2 of WCWS finals
The Sooners don their all-crimson uniforms on Thursday night, while the Longhorns go with an all-white look.
— Jeff Patterson, staff writer
Pregame update: Carly Keeney starts in the circle for the Sooners
Carly Keeney will start for OU in Game 2 of the Women’s College World Series final Thursday night.
Nicole May is the only pitcher other than Kelly Maxwell to start a WCWS game in the circle for the Sooners this season.
Keeney made just one appearance in the WCWS, throwing 1/3 inning in Monday’s loss to Florida.
He made one appearance against the Longhorns during the regular season, throwing one scoreless inning in a loss on April 6 in Austin.
Keeney is 6-1 with a 1.66 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 59 innings.
Maxwell continued to throw complete games for the Sooners over the past two days in wins over Florida and Texas.
— Ryan Aber, staff writer
Further:OU softball’s Carly Keeney turns starting pitcher against Texas in Game 2 of WCWS Finals
ESPN: OU vs Texas sets WCWS Game 1 viewership record
Game 1 of the WCWS Championship Series peaked with 2.1 million viewers and averaged 1.9 million viewers, ESPN announced as the Game 1 record for the Finals.
— Jeff Patterson, staff writer
Further:Who ‘oh me?’ How Sooners Super Fan Buddy Gunter Always Brings the ‘Energy’ to the WCWS
OU Softball Highlights Vs. Texas
Further:Mussato: Thierry Jennings is an OU softball legend. He is the all-time WCWS great.
OU Softball Vs. What time does Texas start?
- Date: Thursday, June 6
- Time: 7 pm CT
- Where: Devon Park in Oklahoma City
Further:OU Softball vs Texas Prediction for WCWS Championship Game 2: Can Seniors Win NCAA Title?
WCWS Finals Today OU Softball Vs. Which channel is Texas?
Further:OU softball beats Texas as Kelly Maxwell moves closer to fourth-straight WCWS title
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