Well, that was about as Oklahoma as it gets.
Trailing 7-4 in the seventh inning of Game 2 of the NCAA Softball super regionals, the top-ranked Sooners — the most dominant program of the 21st century — came back to beat Clemson 8-7 in nine innings to book their seventh consecutive trip to the Women’s College World Series.
The Sooners (56-1), who won the 2021 and 2022 titles, are heavy favorites to repeat.
It was Oklahoma’s 48th win in a row, setting a new NCAA Division I softball record for most consecutive wins. Arizona held the record with 47 consecutive wins in 1996-97.
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The win came in dramatic fashion.
Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Clemson took the lead on a 2-run homer from junior outfielder McKenzie Clark and added two more runs to put the Tigers on top 7-4. Clemson (49-12) looked to be on the brink of breaking Oklahoma’s 47-game winning streak and the Sooners’ 64-game home winning streak.
But the Sooners, who have won six titles in the 21st century, are known for big hits in big moments, and they came through again.
With two outs and two runners on, and down to their last strike, junior catcher Kinzie Hansen homered to left field, tying the game at 7-7 as a packed stadium went wild.
Oklahoma held Clemson scoreless in the bottom of the frame after a crazy, did-you-see-that catch from first baseman Cydney Sanders, who dove into Clemson’s dugout to snag the final out and send the game to extra innings.
It finally came crashing down for Clemson in the top of the ninth, when sophomore second baseman Tiare Jennings hit a solo home run to center field, pushing Oklahoma ahead 8-7.
Clemson’s final batters struck out, ground out, singled and then flew out as Oklahoma clinched the win. OU pitcher Jordy Bahl, the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year who came in in the bottom of the seventh inning, recorded the win. She struck out three and gave up just one hit. Clemson’s Valerie Cagle, who gave up four hits and four runs in three innings pitched, took the loss.
Clemson is in just the fourth year of its program; this was its second trip to the super regionals, though it’s yet to record a super regional victory.
The Sooners last lost earlier this year, when they dropped a 4-3 game at Baylor on Feb. 19. Oklahoma hasn’t lost a super regional game in Norman since 2014.
