Jordi Bahl is back to being her dominant self for a long time.
But by the time OU’s exciting freshman hit the circuit, the junior’s deficit was too much to overcome, and UCLA finally reached Bahl.
The Sooners fell to UCLA 7-3 in the semifinals of the College Women’s World Championships Monday at the USA Softball Hall of Fame to force an elimination match later in the afternoon.
With two chances to win one game on Monday, Sooners coach Patti Gasso opted to go with Nicole May on the circuit for the first time in WCWS.
Hope Trautwein had made all but one during OU’s first two games.
more:‘All Hands On Deck’ OU Employees To Pitching Softball, But New WCWS Schedule Helps Sooners
May was making her debut since May 28, when she threw a full game in the Sooners 7-1 Regional Super win over Central Florida to earn a spot in the WCWS.
Having walked up front and two hitters later, Delanie Wisz gave UCLA the lead with a two-stroke at home to the left.
OU started making a bang on the Jayda Coleman track in front left.
The players hit the ball hard repeatedly against Megan Farimo but could not manage another goal against her during the first three rounds.
This was only the second time throughout the season that a bowler retired nine consecutive OU hitters in a match. The first was Texas’ Hailey Dolcini in Saturday’s Sooners win over the Longhorns.
The OU’s 2-1 deficit by one was the first time the Sooners had been behind after one round this season and the eleventh game they had ever been late.
Twice, OU allowed a run at the top of the first before taking the lead at the bottom of the half.
The Sooners’ deficit grew into third, when May succumbed to a leading blow to Briana Perez, went for Wiz and then had his towering three-stroke run to center abandoned by Maya Brady to put the Bruins ahead 5-1.
WCWS 2022:Fixtures, results and TV schedule for the NCAA Women’s Softball World Series
This was the OU’s biggest deficit since Florida State’s 8-4 win in the opening game of last season’s championship series.
After Brady’s home run, Bahl came for the Sooners and immediately calmed the Bruins’ bats.
UCLA didn’t score another song until Savannah Paula’s #1 hit at number six.
However, Bahl was well ahead in seventh, retiring the first hitters before Wisz pulled off a walk and Brady followed him with another home run, this two-round shot to the left.
Then Bahl went out after throwing 72 shots.
The Bruins’ seven runs were the most scored against the Sooners in a game of seven (or less) this season.
OU beat Tennessee 9-8 in 10 runs in late February, with the Volunteers scoring six runs in the first six rounds.
The loss interrupted a seven-game winning streak for the Sooners (56-3).
more:How UCLA surprised Delanie Wisz with new WCWS fishing gear close to her heart
WCWS النتائج Scoreboard
“Introvert. Subtly charming web geek. Lifelong entrepreneur. Amateur social media expert. Coffee trailblazer.”