Oklahoma one-hits, run-rules Tennessee softball in Women's College World Series winner's bracket
OKLAHOMA CITY — The only hit Tennessee softball managed against Oklahoma at the Women's College World Series on Saturday was in its very first at-bat. A leadoff double by Kiki Milloy was all the Lady Vols got in their 9-0, five-inning run-rule loss. It was their first run-rule loss and third shutout loss of the season.
The only other baserunners the Sooners allowed in the game were on three walks in the final two innings.
With the loss, Tennessee (50-9) will face Oklahoma State (47-15) in an elimination game Sunday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The Lady Vols will have to win three in a row, including twice on Monday, to advance to the best-of-three championship series.
Oklahoma (58-1) extended its winning streak to 50 games, with its last loss coming to Baylor on Feb. 19.
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Tennessee pitching
Tennessee opted to start SEC Freshman of the Year Karlyn Pickens in the circle. It was her first outing since the Knoxville Regional, when she threw two innings against Indiana on May 21. Pickens lasted 1⅓ innings after giving up three hits, three walks and three earned runs with three strikeouts and two wild pitches.
When Tennessee pulled her in the second inning, it brought in freshman Charli Orsini. Orsini had thrown just 14 innings in seven games this season and hadn't pitched since April 23 against Florida. She got an out in the second but didn't make an out of the third after giving up a two-run home run.
The Lady Vols then turned to sophomore Nicola Simpson, who had appeared in 10 games this season and had not pitched since May 7 against South Carolina. Like Orsini, she didn't make it out of the third. She allowed four earned runs with two hits, two walks and a wild pitch.
The third pitcher of the third inning was junior Ryleigh White, who was making her ninth appearance and had not been in a game since April 30 at Arkansas. She got the final out, then got the Sooners in order in the fourth.
Oklahoma's power hitting strikes early
Oklahoma scored its first five runs on the long ball. A three-run home run by Tiare Jennings in the second inning put the Sooners on the board. Pickens dealt a walk to lead off the inning before striking out back-to-back batters, but she gave up a single to put two on. Jennings' homer was her 17th of the season.
Tennessee turned to Orsini after that. With her in the circle in the third, the Sooners added two more with a two-run homer to left center by Kinzie Hansen.
The home run was the end of the outing for Orsini, and Tennessee turned to Simpson. She gave up a walk, a single and a two-RBI triple that dropped between Milloy in center and left fielder Rylie West.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Oklahoma one-hits, run-rules Tennessee softball in WCWS winner's bracket
