OKLAHOMA CITY – It wasn’t pretty, but Oklahoma maintained its historic winning streak.
Tiare Jennings doubled in the ninth inning and scored two runs. She led the top seeded Sooners 4-2 past No. 9 Stanford on Monday for a shot at her third straight Women’s College World Series title.
Oklahoma increased their Division I record to 51 straight wins. The Sooners played No. 3 Florida State or No. 4 Tennessee for the national championship. Oklahoma (59-1) appears to be the first program to win three straight titles since UCLA in 1988-90. The best-of-three championship series begins on Wednesday.
“We win a lot, and that’s great,” said Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso. “But sometimes I think we’re so used to taking it for granted and that means a lot to us. That means a lot. It means a lot to me to come to the championship game.”
Stanford (47-15) reached the World Series for the third time and for the first time since 2004.
With Oklahoma undefeated in the double-elimination bracket, the Sooners needed just one win Monday while Stanford needed two to progress. Oklahoma gave Stanford both World Series losses.
Stanford’s Kylie Chung hit a 2-run home run in the first run, the only runs the Sooners have allowed at the World Series. Jayda Coleman’s solo home run made it 2-0 in the third round.
Grace Lyons doubled the opener in Oklahoma’s ninth game. Coleman hit Lyons on third base with two outs and was walked on purpose. With two hits, Jennings, who was celebrating her 21st birthday, sent NiJaree Canady’s throw down the center right gap to put Lyons and Coleman in goal.
Coleman and Jennings are both first-team All-Americans of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Gasso said Jennings capitalized on an ideal situation despite being 0-4 before her final shot.
“She’s one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen,” Gasso said. “So trainers – all trainers choose their poison. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t work. Tiare has the ability to hold on like none of mine have.” I’ve never seen that before either. Her swing just looked kinda easy. He looked quite free and light and came in at just the right moment.”
Stanford coach Jessica Allister believes pitting Coleman against Jennings was the right move.
“I think we would make the same decision again,” she said. “Of course it’s 20/20 in hindsight and it didn’t end the way we wanted, but we liked the duel. At this point you cannot be careful. You have to trust your gut feeling and make the best decision.”
Oklahoma’s Jordy Bahl rigged the Cardinal in the ninth round.
Bahl, who earned the win, conceded four hits in four innings to relieve starter Nicole May and not allowed a run. Bahl is 3-0 in the World Series and has not allowed a run in 14 2/3 innings.
Canady started the day with the most innings of any player in the World Series. She threw a one-hitter against Washington on Sunday to propel the Cardinals into the semifinals and then threw 85 throws against Oklahoma. The NFCA Freshman of the Year had a 1.12 ERA in the World Series with 25 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings.
“I think I can play at that level,” she said. “Coming into (the World Series) like I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know – we’re getting Oklahoma right away. And now I know I can pretty much pitch for any team in the country.”
Canaday and the Cardinal want more next year.
“We’ve arrived here,” she said. “That was a taster, and now we’re coming back hungry.”
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