Oklahoma Softball Caps Off Historic Season With Third Straight WCWS Title

Oklahoma’s record-setting undefeated streak will continue into next season following Thursday’s Game 2 win over Florida State to secure the program’s third-straight national championship.

Winners of their last 52-straight games, the Sooners (61–1) defeated the Seminoles (58–11), 3–1, to sweep the Women’s College World Series. The victory extended OU’s 109-day, record-breaking winning streak to 53 games, and made OU the second program in NCAA history to three-peat as national champions, joining UCLA, who accomplished the feat from 1988 to ’90.

The 2023 title marks Oklahoma’s seventh national championship under longtime coach Patty Gasso, and the program’s sixth in the last 10 years. With the win now in the books, Gasso will conclude her 29th season with the winningest campaign in NCAA history, and a combined 176–8 mark over the last three seasons.

After three scoreless innings to begin the game, FSU jumped out to an early 1–0 lead in the fourth following a homer from senior Mack Leonard. The momentum would shift almost immediately as OU quickly took the lead with back-to-back homers from sophomore Cydney Sanders and redshirt senior Grace Lyons in the top of the fifth inning.

A sacrifice bunt moved the Sooners into scoring position and led to another run, courtesy of pinch runner Jordy Bahl, after senior Alynah Torres reached on a fielder’s choice ground ball to shortstop. OU would hold on to the 3–1 advantage, thanks to a strong closing effort from Bahl, who was named the WCWS’s Most Outstanding Player.

Bahl, one day removed from pitching a complete game shutout in OU’s 5–0 Game 1 win, added to her strong WCWS run with another solid showing. The sophomore ace and reigning Big 12 Pitcher of the Year allowed zero hits while logging three strikeouts in 3.0 innings pitched. 

Entering Game 2, Bahl logged 30 strikeouts and allowed only 12 hits while pitching a total of 21 2/3 scoreless innings.