After a historically long Game 1 on Monday night, the 10th ranked Oklahoma Sooners softball team repeated as national champions with a 5-4 win over the top-ranked Florida Gators in Game 2.
Despite Oklahoma’s low seed in the tournament which is lowest to win the Women’s College World Series, the grit of this team persevered in the end, winning their fourth program title. Not to mention, it was a 2-0 sweep.
This run was a little more special for the Sooners, simply because it wasn’t expected. The girls wore rubber bracelets that read “Championship Mindset,” which set the tone early for them.
The Big 12 Player of the Year Shay Knighten was the MVP of the World Series as well as the game. She answered a 3-2 lead by Florida with a three-run double in the bottom of the second to regain the Sooners lead. Freshman Mariah Lopez gave up one more run in the third inning to bring the score to 5-3.
Freshman Mariah Lopez gave up one more run in the third inning to bring the score to 5-4. That was the last score of the game and the two teams found themselves in a pitching duel. Oklahoma rationed out the final three innings to various pitchers presumably to save their arms following last game.
The rest of the game held steady, and the Sooners dog piled in Hall of Fame Stadium in front of a 75 percent Sooner crowd. For the second season in a row, the OU women’s softball team gets to go into Summer ’17 champions. For the next seven months, these girls get the chance to look at their trophy and reminisce on a very historic and improbable ending to their season.
How ’bout them Sooner women! Great athletes! Patty Gasso is a great coach!