Yesterday my wife and decided to take in a game at the Women’s College World Series (NCAA softball championship). We have ties to Oklahoma and went to see OU play Texas. The OU squad were the official visitors and were thus up first. The lead off hitter, Jayda Coleman, laced a double to center. I then told my wife to pay careful attention to the second batter, Jocelyn Alo as she is their best hitter and a record setting slugger. No sooner (Sooner?) had I said that…indeed the very next pitch…she launched a home run down the left field line. OU 2, Texas 0. Texas got a run back in the bottom of the first with a bunt single followed by a double of their own. However, OU never trailed, put up 4 runs in the 4th and ultimately won 7-2. We went home happy.
Back to Jocelyn Alo for a moment…earlier this year I put up a post when she set the college career home run record (95). Yesterday’s blast extended her record to 118. It was also her 30th of the season, the third time she’s had at least 30 home runs in a season. The complete list of college softball players ever with three or more 30 home run seasons: Jocelyn Alo.
OU is now 56-2 on the season. Texas is one of the two teams to have beaten them this year (OU is now 3-1 against them for the season). The other is Oklahoma State. Oklahoma State defeated Florida in the afternoon game 2-0 behind superb pitching by their lefty All-American Kelly Maxwell. As winners of the winners bracket games, OU and OSU are now each one win from setting up a Bedlam series for the NCAA championship.
Today, if they aren’t rained out, Texas will play Arizona, and UCLA will play Florida—assuming they aren’t rain delayed. Both are elimination games. (Northwesten and Oregon State were the other two WCWS teams but are already eliminated.) The winner of UCLA/Florida takes on OU; the Texas/Arizona winner gets OSU. Survivors of the losers bracket games each must win twice to get to the finals whereas OU and OSU each only need one win. The final two teams play a best of three series to determine the champion.
Update: They got the games in. UCLA defeated Florida 8-0, and Texas beat Arizona 4-2. The semifinals will be OU vs UCLA and OSU vs Texas.
Fan Interference 
Watching the OSU men play baseball, I swear I aged 10 years today.
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Aaaand the OSU women and men lost. Congrats to OU, and I hope they take it.
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I felt bad for the OSU women—tough way to lose. I was really hoping for a Bedlam Series for the national championship. I’ll be at tomorrow’s game.
As for the OSU men, well, my son’s favorite school has alway been Arkansas.
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