Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma softball: Takeaways from WCWS game Sooners found a way to win

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma's Jordy Bahl (98) and Kinzie Hansen (9) celebrate after an out during a softball game between University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and and Stanford in the Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Oklahoma won 2-0.
Oklahoma's Jordy Bahl (98) and Kinzie Hansen (9) celebrate after an out during a softball game between University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and and Stanford in the Women's College World Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 1, 2023. Oklahoma won 2-0. /
facebooktwitterreddit

Oklahoma softball survived its opening game in the 2023 Women’s College World Series, but the Sooners found out early on they were in for the fight of their lives against underdog Stanford.

The power-laden Oklahoma lineup is used to putting up numbers early and often in games. The Sooners have outscored their opponents this season coming into the WCWS by the overwhelming margin of 478-56 (now 480-56 with the 2-0 shutout over Stanford).

Twenty-eight of Oklahoma’s 58 games this season have ended earlier than seven innings because of the NCAA run rule (a lead of eight or more runs after five innings). Thirty-four of the Sooners’ wins have been achieved by shutting out their opponent.

The two runs scored by the Sooners against an outstanding Stanford pitching performance by freshman NiJaree Canady was truly an anomaly considering the OU has scored two or fewer runs in a game just three other times all season. (Of note: The Sooners actually were held scoreless for seven innings in a 1-0 extra-inning win over Liberty in Game 2 of the season.)

Here are some of the main takeaways from the WCWS win over Stanford:

  • Oklahoma extended its NCAA record consecutive-game win streak to 49 games.
  • The shutout was Jordy Bahl’s seventh of the season and the program record -tying 33rd of the season by the OU pitching staff. The previous high mark was set by last season’s Sooner team.
  • Bahl’s 11 strikeouts marked the 10th time this season she has recorded 10 or more strikeouts in a game.
  • All six of Oklahoma’s hits in the game were singles. This was one of the very few times all season that OU did not hit a home run or hit for extra bases in the game.
  • The two OU runs scored off of Stanford starter NiJaree Canady were the most off of her all season.
  • “She has become one of the hardest-throwing, ball-moving freshman (pitchers) I’ve ever seen,” said OU head coach Patty Gasso in her press interview after the game. NiJaree Canady’s fastball averaged in the 70 mile-per-hour range all game, with a high of 75 mph.
  • Oklahoma is now 10-6 all-time in WCWS opening games.
Home/OU softball