NORMAN – Oklahoma is headed back to the Women’s College World Series Championship Series.
The top-ranked Oklahoma softball team will play for its fourth national title after defeating No. 8 Alabama 7-3 in its second game of Sunday’s semifinals.
After being shutout for the first time all season in the semifinal opener, the Sooners struck quickly in the nightcap. Sydney Romero led off with a walk, and Caleigh Clifton drove her in with a double in the right-center gap. Clifton then took advantage of two wild pitches to cross home.
The Crimson Tide responded quickly in the second as Reagan Dykes hit a solo homer.
The Sooners added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a two-run homer from Jocelyn Alo.
Alabama kept it close with a two-run shot of its own, coming off the bat of Skylar Wallace in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Nicole Mendes drilled another two-run homer, sending hers over the right-field fence. Grace Lyons followed suit with a solo shot to left-center field.
Full recap to come …
Up next, Oklahoma will play No. 2-seeded UCLA (54-6) in the best-of-three championship series that begins Monday at 6:30 p.m.