No. 16/18 Softball drops WCWS Title Series opener to No. 1 Oklahoma

Wednesday, June 8

Oklahoma City, Okla.

7:30 p.m. CT

University of Texas

47-21-1

#1 Oklahoma

58-3

Texas

Oklahoma

No. 16/18 Softball drops WCWS Title Series opener to No. 1 Oklahoma

06.09.2022 | Softball

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The Longhorns & Sooners will return to action on Thurs., June 9, at 6:30 p.m. CT live on ESPN2

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – On Wednesday night in the opener of the WCWS Championship Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, No. 1 Oklahoma (58-3) hit six HR's and took full advantage of four Longhorns errors in powering its way past No. 16/18 Texas softball (47-21-1), 16-1.

The Longhorns and Sooners will continue their best-of-three national title series with game two on Thurs., June 9, at 6:30 p.m. CT live on ESPN2.

Notes

Texas has now had at least one runner on base in 30-of-40 offensive innings at the WCWS, but have stranded a total of 30 runners. That's really hurt in the two match-ups against Oklahoma at the WCWS as the Longhorns have stranded a combined 16 base runners versus the Sooners, including nine on Wednesday in the title series opener.
Sophomore center fielder Bella Dayton set a new Texas WCWS single-game record with two doubles against OU.
With the loss, Texas drops to 11-12 overall in six all-time appearances at the WCWS, 4-2 in this year's visit to the sport's showcase event and 0-3 all-time against OU at the WCWS.
Dayton is having an outstanding WCWS, hitting .368 overall (7-for-19) with a team-best six runs to go with two doubles, a HR and three RBIs.

Major Players

Sophomore center fielder Bella Dayton (2-for-4, run, two doubles), sophomore first baseman JJ Smith (1-for-3); sophomore designated player Courtney Day (walk, RBI)

In the Circle

Senior Hailey Dolcini (24-12) took the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits over two-thirds of an inning.

The Details

Texas got something rolling with two outs in its first at-bat as Dayton kicked things off by driving a double to right and moving to third on a passed ball. Sophomore shortstop Alyssa Washington & senior catcher Mary Iakopo followed immediately with walks as the Longhorns loaded the bases for Texas WCWS career HR & RBI leader Day. The sophomore infielder delivered again by drawing a free pass of her own to force in a run for a quick 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, a fly out left the bags packed as UT missed a huge early chance to put up a crooked number.

The Sooners powerful offense answered right back in the bottom of the first as a Jayda Coleman leadoff double to left center and a Jocelyn Alo HR to left staked Oklahoma to a 2-1 advantage. Texas had an opportunity to get out of the frame with no further damage, but a throwing error extended things. OU quickly took advantage with three unearned runs as first baseman Taylon Snow eventually hit a two-out, three-run HR to make it 5-1.

Oklahoma added another run to its lead in the bottom of the second as shortstop Grace Lyons drilled a RBI single to left.

Dayton tried to ignite another Texas rally in the top of the third by launching her second double of the game to right. With two on and two outs after Iakopo was struck by a pitch, Day stepped into the box and lifted a towering fly ball to left. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, Oklahoma's Alyssa Brito had just enough room to make the catch up against the fence to leave two more stranded.

Home runs by third baseman Jana Johns and second baseman Tiare Jennings boosted the OU lead to 10-1 in the bottom of the third.

After Oklahoma made it 12-1 in the fourth, freshman third baseman Mia Scott reached on a dropped fly ball to left to start the fifth and ended up at second. The Angleton, Texas, native eventually moved to third on a fly out, but that was as far as she'd go as the Longhorns left another runner aboard.

In the bottom of the fifth, Alo and Jennings hit back-to-back HR's to make it 14-1.

Texas continued to fight into the sixth as Smith singled and sophomore pinch hitter Jordyn Whitaker walked to put two more on with two out. A fielder's choice would cut down the runner at second, however, as the Horns left stranded count grew to nine.

The Sooners went on to add two more in their half of the sixth to expand the gap to 16-1, while Texas was retired in order in the seventh to complete the championship series opener.