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Watch: Oklahoma softball beats Texas to four-peat as national champion
On Thursday, the Oklahoma Sooners knocked off Texas 8-4 in Game 2 of the Women's College World Series, four-peating as softball champions.
FOUR-PEAT COMPLETE #WCWS x ESPN / @OU_Softball pic.twitter.com/Pu5TYx2Msh
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) June 7, 2024
The turning point came in the sixth inning when Texas blew a golden opportunity to stay alive in the series. Trailing Oklahoma 5-3 in the sixth inning, Mia Scott reached on an infield single, scoring Joley Mitchell and putting runners at first and third with two outs. However, after taking the turn around first, Scott hesitated briefly and was tagged out trying to return to the bag, ending the inning.
A wild out ends the top of the 6th #WCWS pic.twitter.com/ceYuDvL4T5
— ESPN (@espn) June 7, 2024
In the bottom half of the inning, Oklahoma made Texas pay. First, Jayda Coleman knocked in a run with an RBI single before Ella Parker drove home two more a batter later.
EP adds two
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 7, 2024
↓6 | OU 8, UT 4#ChampionshipMindset | @espn pic.twitter.com/ui4ILpkXPX
It wasn't the first jam Oklahoma had to get out of on Thursday. The Sooners trailed 3-2 early in the game, but as they've done throughout the World Series, came up with big hits when needed. Cydney Sanders hit a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the fourth to put the Sooners up for good.
CYDNEY SANDERS HITS A 3-RUN DOUBLE TO GIVE THE SOONERS THE LEAD #WCWS pic.twitter.com/ZV5ZNFV9RA
— ESPN (@espn) June 7, 2024
Kelly Maxwell sealed the game in the seventh inning, setting Texas down in order in the top of the seventh to clinch the title for the Sooners. Maxwell, who picked up the save on Thursday after pitching a complete game to earn the win in Game 1, was named the tournament's Most Oustanding Player.
A moment for the record books! #WCWS x @OU_Softball pic.twitter.com/wV9vt18I6E
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) June 7, 2024
Oklahoma is the first team to win four consecutive titles in NCAA history, and this is the eighth championship for the program overall. Meanwhile, Thursday's game drew 12,324 fans, a championship finals attendance record.
The Sooners dominated the series against Texas, outscoring the Longhorns 16-7. Entering the World Series, UT hadn't allowed a run over three games before running into Oklahoma.
More must-reads:
- Women's College World Series finals mark an end of an era
- Three's company: 18 teams that have pulled off three-peats
- The '2024-25 NFL passing-yard leaders' quiz
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