OU tops Clemson in regional opener, ties D-I mark with 47th straight win
NORMAN, Okla. — Haley Lee hit a grand slam, Cydney Sanders and Alyssa Brito every added a homer and top-ranked Oklahoma prolonged its successful streak to 47 with a 9-2 victory over Clemson in the opener of the Norman Super Regional on Friday.
Oklahoma (55-1) tied Arizona’s all-time Division I document of 47 straight wins — set in 1997. The Sooners search to interrupt the document Saturday in Game 2 of the best-of-three collection with Clemson (49-11).
Oklahoma had two fielding errors in the fifth inning as Clemson pulled inside 4-2, however the Sooners broke it open in the underside half with 5 straight hits, together with a grand slam.
Oklahoma’s fifteenth error of the season put runners on second and third with one out in the fifth. Caroline Jacobsen took benefit by hitting a two-run double down the road. Clemson loaded the bases after Oklahoma’s second error of the inning, however Jordy Bahl ended the risk with a strikeout and a mushy liner to Tiare Jennings at second base.
Oklahoma’s first three batters of the fifth inning reached on hits — after simply 4 pitches — after which Lee cleared the bases for an 8-2 lead. After a pitching change, Brito hit her sixteenth residence run of the season.
Sanders hit her two-run homer in the fourth to increase Oklahoma’s result in 4-0. It was her third straight NCAA match recreation with a house run.