Defending champ Oklahoma crushes Duke in Women's College World Series opener
Oklahoma's Kierston Deal (11) pitches during a softball game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Florida State Seminoles in Game 2 of the Norman Super Regional in the NCAA Tournament at Love's Field, Friday, May 24, 2024. Oklahoma won 4-2 to advance to the Women's College World Series. Kinzie Hansen hit the first of three two-run home runs for Oklahoma to lift the Sooners to a 9-1 six-inning win over Duke in the first round of the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma (55-6) will take on UCLA in the winner's bracket Saturday.
Duke (52-8) will play Alabama in an elimination game Friday night.
Hansen got the Sooners' scoring started with a two-out homer to left in the third, jumping on Jala Wright's first pitch of the at-bat.
Oklahoma built from there, with Alynah Torres adding a two-run homer later in the inning, and then Cydney Sanders driving another two-run shot in the fourth.
The win was the Sooners' 19th consecutive NCAA Tournament win, extending their own record.
Oklahoma is looking to become the first team to win four consecutive WCWS titles.
Alyssa Brito delivered a two-run single in the sixth to end the game by run-rule.
The Blue Devils, in their first Women's College World Series appearance, took the lead in the second on Francesca Frelick's leadoff homer to left.
Oklahoma had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the inning, putting runners on the corners with one out but failing to plate a run.
--Field Level Media
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