WCWS: Defense Pushes OU Past Auburn In Game 3 To Win National Championship

The Oklahoma softball team battled it out with Auburn in Game 3 for the Women’s College World Series Championship, and it was the Sooners who prevailed with a 2-1 victory.

Game Synopsis

OU took the field as the home team and got a quick three outs with just ten pitches from Paige Parker before heading to the plate.

Erin Miller soon recorded the first out for the Sooners at the bottom of the first inning on a ground ball to second base. But Caleigh Clifton stepped up to tally the first hit for OU off a single up the middle that was stopped by Auburn second baseman Emily Carosone but thrown away. 

Shay Knighten took advantage of the runner on base and ripped a grounder to second, resulting in an E4 that soon scored Clifton after Carosone attempted to fake throw but let the ball slip out of her hands.

The Tigers’ defense looked sloppy and OU capitalized off of it, adding another run from Knighten going into the second inning.

Auburn led off the inning with back-to-back singles, but Parker shut the Tigers down to send the Sooners back to bat.

After the Sooners failed to add to their advantage, Auburn threatened at the top of three with bases loaded and no outs. But Parker’s third strikeout of the game and a 6-4-3 double play helped OU out of the jam.

The double play marked the Sooner’s sixth in Word Series play, tying for the second most in World Series history.

Auburn finally got on the board in the top of four to cut its deficit 2-1 with a homer over the left field fence from Jade Rhodes (who homered in her last 3-of-4 games).

The Sooners held onto their lead throughout the game to win 2-1 and claim the program's third national title.