One pitch, one mistake and now UCLA is one loss away from the top of its season.
No. 2 Oklahoma survived a pitchers’ duel in a 1-0 win over No. 6 UCLA within the Women’s College World Series on Saturday at Devon Park, advancing to the semifinals on a solo residence run from shortstop Tiare Jennings and 11 strikeouts from Kelly Maxwell.
UCLA (43-11) will play Pac-12 rival Stanford in an elimination sport Sunday at 4 p.m. PDT (ESPN2).
Saturday’s titanic conflict of the game’s winningest program towards the present dynasty featured the 2 longest energetic profitable streaks within the nation. UCLA’s run of 14 consecutive wins ended whereas Oklahoma stretched its streak to 11 straight. The Sooners, who’re attempting to develop into the primary program in historical past to win 4 consecutive NCAA softball championships, have received 20 straight NCAA match video games. The Bruins had been the final workforce to beat the Sooners (56-7) within the postseason in 2022.
Maya Brady was the hero within the 7-3 win that compelled an “if vital” sport within the 2022 nationwide semifinals, however the fifth-year senior couldn’t muster something towards Maxwell on Saturday. The Oklahoma State switch gave up simply two hits and three walks in a complete-game shutout.
The prime of UCLA’s lineup — Brady, Jadelyn Allchin and Sharlize Palacios, who’re three of UCLA’s prime 4 hitters by common — mixed to go 0 for 10 on the plate with six strikeouts. Brady, who turned 23 Saturday, struck out thrice, tying her profession excessive in a sport. She had an opportunity to maintain the Bruins alive within the prime of the seventh, however grounded out to second base.
UCLA, which had thrived within the postseason off well timed hitting, left seven on base.
The Bruins had two on with no outs within the prime of the third with the highest of their lineup on the plate. With Brady, who had reached base in 16 consecutive video games batting, the Sooners referred to as timeout. Maxwell then struck out the UCLA slugger.
Maxwell retired three of UCLA’s most skilled gamers as a way to finish the risk. After sending Brady again to the dugout, Maxwell compelled a shallow infield fly by Allchin and struck out UCLA residence run chief Palacios. The Bruins left the golden alternative with out even a run.
Oklahoma instantly took benefit with a leadoff residence run from Jennings. The shortstop from San Pedro despatched Kaitlyn Terry’s first pitch crusing over the fence in left-center subject.
But the Bruins restricted the injury to only one run with stellar play from its protection. After middle fielder Janelle Meoño watched Jennings’ homer, the UCLA fifth-year senior robbed Kasidi Pickering of a two-run shot that might have turned the momentum squarely towards the Sooners. Instead, the Bruins completed the inning with a strikeout from Terry.
Terry, beginning her second consecutive sport, gave up three hits, one run and three walks with 4 strikeouts in 4 innings. Sophomore Taylor Tinsley pitched three innings in aid, permitting one hit with two strikeouts.
