The Oklahoma fans in left-center field watched quietly as James Madison left fielder
Kate Gordon’s hit in the top of the eighth inning carried further and further, sneaking over the outfield fence to put the Dukes up 4-3 on the top-seeded Sooners.
In the bottom of the eighth, OU couldn’t cash in when James Madison’s star pitcher
Odicci Alexander walked USA Softball Player of the Year
Jocelyn Alo, and the Sooners fell in their Women’s College World Series opener on Thursday.
Alexander, the NFCA Second-Team All-American, put in perhaps her finest performance in the circle of the season against OU. She struck out nine batters and only allowing two walks (both to Alo) to ensure the Dukes would never trail.
And why wouldn t she be?
In last weekend’s Super Regionals, the top-seeded Oklahoma Sooners dispatched of the 16-seeded Washington Huskies in two games, with pitchers Nicole May and
As a result, OU gave up just three runs and cruised past the Huskies.
The Oklahoma head coach believes she’s getting the best out of her pitching staff at the perfect time.
“I truly can tell you I feel extremely confident about this pitching staff right now,” Gasso said at her pre-Women’s College World Series Zoom press conference on Wednesday afternoon. Have I been able to say that about certain times during the season? Not all the time. So this is exciting for us.”
Sooners are getting major contributions from all over the field, but Hansen delivers leadership and playmaking from behind the plate, along with a clutch bat