By Canadian Press

Oklahoma wins third straight Women’s College World Series title, extends record win streak to 53

Jun 8, 2023 | 8:24 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Jordy Bahl threw three innings of perfect relief and Oklahoma won its third straight Women’s College World Series title and seventh overall, beating Florida State 3-1 on Thursday night for a two-game sweep.

The Sooners finished 61-1 and extended their Division I-record win streak to 53 games. They have won six titles since 2016 after getting their first in 2000, all under coach Patty Gasso.

Oklahoma’s only defeat was a 4-3 loss at Baylor on Feb. 19. The Sooners set a record for win percentage and had the fewest losses of any NCAA champion. They led the nation in runs per game, earned run average and batting average — even after losing Division I career home run leader Jocelyn Alo from last year’s team.

UCLA was the only other program to win three straight titles, from 1988-90. But the Bruins lost 19 games during that stretch. Oklahoma has dropped just eight during its three-peat.

Bahl, a sophomore from Papillion, Nebraska, did not allow an earned run in 24 2/3 innings during the WCWS. She went 4-0, earned the save in Thursday’s game and became the first pitcher since 1992 to work at least 20 innings at the World Series without allowing a run.

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Cydney Sanders and Grace Lyons hit back-to-back homers off Seminoles ace Kathryn Sandercock in the fifth inning after Florida State had taken a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Mack Leonard’s homer. That was plenty of cushion for Bahl, who struck out three and threw 39 pitches, 28 for strikes.

Sandercock pitched a complete game for Florida State (58-11), which made its third finals appearance in the past five World Series. The Seminoles won the title in 2018 and were runners-up to Oklahoma in 2021.

Cliff Brunt, The Associated Press