Oklahoma beats Texas, repeats as softball national champs

Associated Press
Thursday, June 9, 2022 11:49 p.m. | Thursday, June 9, 2022 11:49 p.m.

Tulsa World

Oklahoma pitcher Jordyn Bahl (98) yells Thursday after striking out a Texas batter to end an inning during the second game of the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series finals in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Oklahoma’s Jayda Coleman catches a fly ball hit by Texas’ Mary Iakopo during the first inning of the second game of the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series finals Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Oklahoma City.

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Texas infielder Janae Jefferson throws to first base against Oklahoma during the second game of the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series finals in Oklahoma City, Okla.

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Texas outfielder Isabella Dayton (6) makes a catch against Oklahoma in the outfield during the second game of the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series finals in Oklahoma City, Okla.

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Oklahoma’s Alyssa Brito, left, scores while avoiding a tag by Texas catcher Mary Iakopo, right, during the second game of the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series finals in Oklahoma City, Okla., Thursday, June 9, 2022.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Kinzie Hansen and Grace Lyons hit three-run homers, Jayda Coleman made two spectacular defensive plays and No. 1 seed Oklahoma beat unseeded Texas 10-5 on Thursday night to win its second straight Women’s College World Series title.

The Sooners (59-3) won the best-of-three series 2-0 after winning Game 1 16-1 on Wednesday.

Jocelyn Alo, the two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year who had been dominant throughout the World Series, hit a hard single in her final at-bat in the sixth inning and later scored. In the seventh, she stepped in to play left field and caught two fly balls for outs before leaving the game to a standing ovation. She ends her career with a Division I record 122 home runs.

WHAT A CATCH FROM JAYDA COLEMAN TO STOP THE HOME RUN ???? pic.twitter.com/bc9PHxfU5U

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 10, 2022

It was Oklahoma’s sixth overall championship and fifth in the past nine World Series.

Oklahoma’s Jordy Bahl (22-1), the NFCA Freshman of the Year, settled down after a rough start. She allowed two runs and four hits in four innings.

Estelle Czech (13-2) started the game with three shutout innings, but ran into trouble in the fourth and fifth and was replaced.

Mia Scott hit a 3-run homer and JJ Smith had two hits for the Longhorns (47-22-1), who had survived six elimination games in NCAA tournament play before Thursday night.