Oklahoma Sooners lose 4-3 to Oklahoma State Cowgirls in Big 12 championship game
One of the greatest regular seasons in NCAA Softball seasons will not include a conference championship win.
The Oklahoma Sooners were defeated in the Big 12 Championship Game 4-3 by the Oklahoma State Cowgirls in extra innings.
The Sooners got on the board first with two runs in the third inning. Oklahoma State wouldn’t waste time answering. They’d put two on the board to tie the game and displayed incredible patience all afternoon, making the Sooners pitching staff work.
Nicole May got the start and was solid to begin the game. While walking three, she struck out three and allowed a pair of runs in 4.2 innings of work. Hope Trautwein came in for relief in the fifth and struggled.
Trailing in the bottom of the fifth, Jocelyn Alo hit a solo shot to tie the game and give the Sooners a bit of life. Oklahoma State’s pitching and defense kept the Sooners from getting on the scoreboard over the final three innings to win their first Big 12 softball championship.
Trautwein walked three and allowed two runs over 3.1 innings and allowed two runs, including what would be the game-winner, a bunt with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth.
Jordy Bahl was notably absent during the Big 12 tournament. Coach Patty Gasso says it’s due to “arm soreness” and didn’t seem overly concerned, but no timetable has been given for Bahl’s return. Gasso took this as an opportunity to rest her true freshman starter and give Hope Trautwein and Nicole May an opportunity to lead for the Sooners.
Oklahoma State is a top 10 team in the nation for a reason and like the Sooners were at the end of the regular season, the Cowgirls were the better team in the title game.
Despite the loss, this season is far from over for the no. 1 team in the nation.
Selections for NCAA Regionals will happen tomorrow. Even without the Conference Championship in hand, should still go into the tournament as the No. 1 seed.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
