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NCAA Super Regionals: Oklahoma moves closer to WCWS with 4-0 shutout of Auburn

By Chip Rouse

Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners fans hold up a number one prior to the game against the Texas Longhorns during Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners fans hold up a number one prior to the game against the Texas Longhorns during Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma and Auburn, the last two teams standing in last season’s Women’s College World Series. battled to a scoreless tie and a combined six hits through five innings in their NCAA Division I Super Regional contest on Friday.

But over the final two innings, however, the Sooners scored four runs on seven hits, while OU starter Paige Parker held Auburn scoreless the rest of the way, giving up just four hits total and striking out 14 Tigers, as Oklahoma took the first game in their Super Regional series at Auburn, 4-0.

Parker’s 14-strikeout performance set a new Oklahoma record for punch outs in a Super Regional game and was one off her best career outing. The Sooner ace, who was the winning pitcher when OU defeated Auburn last season for the national championship, fanned two batters in every inning but one and struck out every Tiger hitter at least once.

“I think that’s one thing I’m most pleased about. When I look at the box, you can see everybody contributing some way or the other.” –Sooner coach Patty Gasso on the balance throughout the OU lineup

The top three hitters in the Sooner lineup accounted for half of OU’s 10 hits off of Auburn starter Makayla Martin, who has lost just six times all season while posting 20 wins.

Freshman right fielder Nicole Mendes and sophomore first baseman Shay Knighton both went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Sooners. Mendes extended her hitting streak to 21 games.

The same two teams will play again at noon CDT on Saturday. One more Oklahoma win  will send the Sooners back to the Women’s College World Series for a second straight year with the opportunity to defend their national crown.

Sooner head coach Patty Gasso was naturally very pleased with her team’s performance on Friday against a very good Auburn team in a very difficult environment.

“I think that’s one thing I’m most pleased about,” she said when asked about the offensive balance in the Oklahoma lineup. “When I look at the box, you can see everybody contributing in some way or the other.”

What else you should know about OU’s win in Game 1 of the Auburn Super Regional:

  • Oklahoma has now one 27 consecutive true road games over the last two seasons.
  • Paige Parker’s postseason earned run average is now 0.85 over 24 2/3 innings with 36 strikeouts.
  • In addition to her 21-game hitting streak, Nicole Mendes also has reached base successfully in 35 consecutive games.
  • The Sooners are now 3-1 against Auburn in postseason action, 14-11 overall in the Super Regionals and 8-3 in Super Regional Game 1s. OU has won its last eight opening games in the Super Regionals.
  • Auburn left seven runners on base in Game 1 of the Super Regional and was just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
  • Standout stat: The Sooners are 51-1 this season when they out-hit their opponent.
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