As Oklahoma prepared to face UCLA in the Women’s College World Series winners bracket, the Sooners needed to make a rapid defensive shift. Alynah Torres misplaced a fly ball in the heat and was forced to leave the game after it hit her visor, and Patty Gasso does not anticipate her to return.
The play occurred in the third inning, when Jadelyn Allchin popped a fly to Torres at second. It missed her glove and hit her visor, and she quickly informed Gasso that she needed to come out on her way to the dugout. The umpires called an infield fly because there were runners on first and second with less than two outs, and the batter was out.
Jennings snuck a solo home run over the center field fence to give Oklahoma a 1-0 lead over UCLA in the winners bracket matchup. It was her ninth career WCWS homer, and it came in her 21st game in Oklahoma City. That’s why Gasso said she had a feeling Jennings would come through.
“She loves this moment, she loves this platform,” Gasso said. “It’s where she’s her best, so I knew it was coming.”
Kelly Maxwell got the nod in the circle for the Sooners and shut down the UCLA lineup the first time through. Through four innings of work, she allowed just one hit and struck out seven Bruins as OU kept its 1-0 lead.
Gasso saw some good things from her ace in the early going, and she pointed out some specifics during her interview.
