Sooners move to WCWS final round
OKLAHOMA CITY — No. 1 Oklahoma stormed into Monday’s Women’s College World Series semifinals with a 9-0, run-rule victory over four-seed Tennessee in five innings Saturday.
The Sooners (58-1) were propelled by a pair of home runs and an exceptional effort in the circle by sophomore Jordy Bahl (20-1), who allowed just one hit in 3.2 innings pitched with three strikeouts to one of the nation’s top offenses. Bahl, Storako (0.2 IP), Deal (0.1) and May (0.1) combined to earn OU’s program-record 34th shutout of the season.
The staff surrendered just one hit in a game for the eighth time this season.
The two blasts came courtesy Tiare Jennings in the second inning and Kinzie Hansen in the third on three- and two-run shots, respectively. OU plated six runs on four hits in the third to break the game open and coast to the team’s 28th run-rule win of 2023.
Jennings’ blast was her team-leading fifth of the NCAA postseason and 17th of the year, while Hansen hit her third in postseason play and 13th of the season. Jennings has accumulated 26 runs batted in across her three WCWS played (2021-23), just two RBIs shy of former teammate Jocelyn Alo’s WCWS career record 28. Her eight career homers at the WCWS trails only Alo’s 12.
After surrendering a leadoff double to start the game, Bahl retired 10 straight Volunteers (50-9) from the first through fourth innings. The Sooner ace leads all WCWS pitchers in 2023 with 14 strikeouts through two games. Bahl has surrendered just one earned run this NCAA postseason in 23.3 innings pitched, striking out 30 in those five appearances.
Oklahoma became the first team since 2017 Florida to open the World Series with back-to-back shutout victories. The shutout was just the third time the Volunteers had been blanked this season, and the first time they’ve been run-ruled. OU improved its NCAA record win streak to 50 games.
The Sooners advance to their seventh consecutive WCWS semifinal appearance, making the final four every completed season dating back to 2016. OU has advanced to the championship series each of the last three seasons, one win away from four straight.
OU won its semifinal against Washington on Monday 4-2 in nine innings. Jayda Coleman hit a home run. Tiare Jennings had two RBIs.