No. 16/18 Softball falls to No. 1 Oklahoma at WCWS, 7-2

Saturday, June 4

Oklahoma City, Okla.

2 p.m. CT

University of Texas

44-20-1

#1 Oklahoma

56-2

Oklahoma

Texas

No. 16/18 Softball falls to No. 1 Oklahoma at WCWS, 7-2

06.04.2022 | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

The Longhorns will return to action on Sun., June 5, at 6 p.m. CT against Arizona (ESPN2)

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – On Saturday afternoon in Women's College World Series winner's bracket action at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, senior second baseman Janae Jefferson and sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington each knocked in single runs for No. 16/18 Texas softball (44-20-1), but it wasn't enough as No. 1 Oklahoma (56-2) won the winner's bracket match-up, 7-2.

The Longhorns move on to battle Arizona in an elimination contest on Sun., June 5, at 6 p.m. CT live on ESPN2.

Notes

Texas got at least one base runner on in all seven innings against No. 1 Oklahoma, but left seven stranded.
Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson hit her fourth HR of the NCAA Tournament, one more than her entire regular-season total of three.
Texas' offense is hitting .306 overall over its first two WCWS games.
Jefferson started & played in her 65th game of the season, tying former Longhorns Keely Franks (1998) and Jane Teixeira (1998) for both Texas single-season records.
The Longhorns are now 0-2 all-time against the Sooners in WCWS play after losses in 2013 and 2022.
Texas is now 8-11 all-time in six appearances at the Women's College World Series and 0-4 against top-seeded teams.

Major Players

Senior second baseman Janae Jefferson (1-for-4, run, HR, RBI); sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington (2-for-4, double, RBI); freshman third baseman Mia Scott (1-for-4, run); sophomore right fielder Courtney Day (1-for-1, two walks); freshman right fielder Katie Cimusz (1-for-1)

In the Circle

Senior Hailey Dolcini (23-11) suffered the loss after allowing five earned runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout over 4.1 innings of work. Freshman Sophia Simpson (1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K) and sophomore Logan Hulon (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB) finished off the final 2.2 frames of relief.

The Details

It took Oklahoma's top-ranked offense just two batters to grab the lead in the top of the first. With center fielder Jayda Coleman aboard on a leadoff double, designated player Jocelyn Alo followed by hitting a two-run HR just over the wall in left to grant the Sooners a 2-0 advantage.

Looking for an immediate answer, Scott got Texas's offense started in the bottom of the first by beating out a bunt single and quickly swiping second. That set the stage for some Washington heroics as the Abilene, Texas, native drove a RBI double just inside the third-base bag and down the line to cut UT's deficit in half at 2-1.

OU second baseman Tiare Jennings broke up a string of nine-straight Sooners retired by Dolcini by jumping on the first pitch of the fourth to drive it down the line into the left-field corner. A Grace Lyons walk, a Texas throwing error and a stolen base put two Sooners in scoring position with two down. Pinch hitter Grace Green stepped up facing a huge spot, but flew out harmlessly to right as Dolcini and the Horns battled out of a jam.

Oklahoma right fielder Rylie Boone managed to get the Sooners offense untracked by starting the top of the fifth with a bunt single. After a sacrifice to advance the runner, Coleman came to the plate and hit a RBI double off the wall in right center to score Boone. The OU lead soon expanded to 4-1 as Alo ripped a run-scoring single up the middle. Facing UT reliever Simpson, second baseman Tiare Jennings drove a two-run HR to left to make it 6-1.

Texas kept fighting into the bottom of the sixth as consecutive singles from Cimusz and Day put two aboard with still only one out. Unfortunately, a fly out to left and a bouncer to second left the Longhorns duo stranded.

The Sooners utilized an Alyssa Brito RBI single to left to boost their lead to 7-1 in the top of the seventh.

Facing one final chance to get back into the contest, the Longhorns did get a Jefferson solo HR to right, but that was all as OU wrapped up the 7-2 triumph.