Texas had not allowed a run in the 2024 Women’s College World Series before the finals. It took all of two Oklahoma batters for that streak to end.
Jayda Coleman reached first when she was hit by a pitch, then Tiare Jennings blasted a two-run homer to dead center to put the Sooners up 2-0.
The rest was much of the same as Oklahoma received homers from Kinzie Hansen and Kasidi Pickering to propel the Sooners to an 8-3 Game 1 victory, putting the Sooners one win away from a fourth straight national championship.
MORE: Watch the 2024 Women’s College World Series finals live with Fubo (free trial)
Wednesday’s College World Series Game 1 was a day full of big Oklahoma hits and Texas missteps. Following Jennings’ home run in the top of the first, Mia Scott launched a solo homer in the bottom of the first off Kelly Maxwell to give Texas hope. But Hansen and Pickering hit back-to-back homers in the top of the third to push the lead up to 5-1.
Texas did itself no favors. In the top of the fifth with a runner on second, Pickering rolled a slow grounder to the right side of the infield. Charging toward first, second baseman Alyssa Washington attempted a glove flip to get Pickering. The flip sailed well over first baseman Katie Stewart’s glove, scoring Hansen and pushing the lead to 6-1.
In the top of the sixth, Alynah Torres was hit by a pitch and lifted for Avery Hodge to pinch hit. Hodge advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third when catcher Reese Atwood appeared to forget how many outs there were, then scored on a single to left. Texas scrapped a pair of runs back in the bottom of the sixth, but Oklahoma got another back the next half inning when, with Alyssa Brito on third, Atwood tried to pick her off with a throw back to the base, but it was wide left, hitting Brito and rolling down the left-field line, allowing Brito to score.
Though the bats took the spotlight in Oklahoma’s five-run win, Kelly Maxwell did plenty to merit praise against the Longhorns. She limited one of the nation’s best lineups to just three runs (one earned) across seven innings on four hits and four walks. She struck out eight batters.
Should Oklahoma win Game 2 or 3, the Sooners would become the first team in NCAA Division I softball history to win four straight national championships. The senior class in Oklahoma has known nothing but ending their seasons with a championship.
Sporting News tracked scores and highlights from the first game of the Women’s College World Series finals. Follow for updates from Wednesday’s game.
Texas vs. Oklahoma softball final score
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Women’s College World Series live updates, highlights from Game 1
(All times Eastern)
10:48 p.m. End of game: Martinez is caught looking, and the Sooners take Game 1.
10:46 p.m.: Scott goes down swinging. Two away.
10:45 p.m.: Dayton grounds out to second for the first out.
10:41 p.m. End top seventh: Riley Ludlam, pinch-hitting for Boone, is caught looking at strike three to end the inning. The Longhorns have the top of the order coming up trailing by five in Game 1 with three outs left to give.
10:39 p.m.: Maloney robs Pickering of a second homer today, leaping over the right-center wall to make an incredible grab.
10:37 p.m. Oklahoma scoring play: More defensive woes for Texas. Atwood tries to throw out Brito at third, but the throw sails left and deflects off Brito and rolls down the left-field line. Brito gets up and scores easily to get another run back for the Sooners. Oklahoma 8, Texas 3
10:37 p.m.: Pickering is back in the lineup after being removed for a defensive sub.
10:36 p.m.: Gutierrez gets a groundout on a comebacker to the mound, but Brito got a good enough jump to get to third.
10:35 p.m.: Brito crushes a double into the right-center gap. That left the bat at 75 mph.
10:32 p.m.: Citlaly Gutierrez is the new pitcher on the mound for Texas.
10:29 p.m. End of sixth: On pitch No. 110, Maxwell strikes out Hunter to strand a pair and get out of the jam.
10:27 p.m.: The ruling on the field stands. Victoria Hunter will pinch hit for Texas as the Longhorns look to keep cutting into the deficit.
10:24 p.m.: Henry hits a slow roller down the first base line and Sanders makes a pass at a tag, but the first-base umpire rules she missed the tag. The play is under review.
10:22 Texas scoring play: Are the Longhorns mounting a comeback? Mitchell flips a base hit into a shallow to drive home Washington, who reached second on a wild pitch. Texas gets one run closer. Oklahoma 7, Texas 3
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) June 6, 2024
10:19 p.m.: Nice play by Maxwell as she makes a cross-body throw to get Stewart at second on a fielder’s choice. Washington reaches first on the play.
10:18 p.m. Texas scoring play: The Longhorns get a run back. Stewart drops a base hit into right-center to drive home Martinez. Oklahoma 7, Texas 2
10:16 p.m.: Martinez’s triple has now been changed to an error on Sanders.
10:15 p.m.: Atwood lifts a popup to shortstop. She just missed a middle-middle pitch. Instead, Martinez stays at third with now one away.
10:14 p.m.: Martinez gives the Longhorns a bit of a spark. She hits a hard grounder that takes a wicked hop on Sanders at first and rolls into the right-field corner. Martinez races around for a triple with no one out.
10:08 p.m. End top sixth: Parker grounds out to second to end the frame.
10:07 p.m. Oklahoma scoring play: Jennings picks up her third RBI of the day as she flips a single into left to score Hodge. The Sooners are two runs away from run ruling Texas. Oklahoma 7, Texas 1
10:06 p.m.: Hodge moved up to second on a wild pitch. Czech then fans Coleman, but on a slow throw back to the mound, Hodge stole third base. Jennings will hit with two out and a runner on third.
10:02 p.m.: On an 0-2 count, Torres is hit on the hand by a pitch. Hodge returns to run for Torres.
10:01 p.m.: Sanders hits a hard grounder to the left side, but it’s handled by Scott for the groundout. Alynah Torres is coming in to pinch hit for Hodge.
9:57 p.m. End of fifth: Scott grounds out to short for a 1-2-3 inning. Texas is down to its final six outs, needing five runs to tie.
9:56 p.m.: Back-to-back groundouts start the bottom of the fifth as Dayton rolls out to first.
9:55 p.m.: Maloney grounds out to second on the first pitch of the AB.
9:55 p.m.: Notable defensive change as Pickering is pulled for Hannah Coor in left field. Pickering homered earlier in the day.
9:52 p.m. End top fifth: Boone pops out to shallow right, where Washington makes the catch. But Oklahoma now leads by five.
9:50 p.m. Oklahoma scoring play: Defensive disaster for Texas. Pickering hits a slow roller to the right side of the infield. Washington attempts a glove flip to first, but it sails over Stewart’s glove. Hansen comes around to score and Pickering moves up to second on the throwing error. Oklahoma 6, Texas 1
9:49 p.m.: Hansen rips a line drive into left at 77 mph for a double. That’s her second extra-base hit of the day, following the two-run homer earlier in the game.
9:47 p.m.: Another quick out for Czech as Brito pops out on the first pitch of her AB.
9:46 p.m.: Parker grounds out to second to start the top of the fifth.
9:46 p.m.: Estelle Czech is the new pitcher for Texas. She’s making her first College World Series appearance.
9:42 p.m. End of fourth: Henry chases a pitch down and away for strike three. That’s Maxwell’s fifth strikeout of the evening.
9:39 p.m.: The Longhorns get Mitchell on board with two out with a walk. Henry coming up to the plate.
9:37 p.m.: Washington chases an 0-2 pitch in the dirt, and is thrown out to complete the strikeout.
9:35 p.m.: Stewart leads off the bottom of the fourth by flying out to center.
9:32 p.m. End top fourth: Jennings is caught looking at strike three as Morgan picks up a much needed 1-2-3 inning.
9:29 p.m.: Coleman hits a comebacker to the mound, which Morgan fields for the groundout.
9:29 p.m.: Hodge is caught looking at the 10th pitch of the at-bat for a strikeout.
9:21 p.m. End of third: Maxwell gets a big third out as Atwood hits a comebacker right to her for groundout. Texas trails by four with Oklahoma coming back to the plate.
9:18 p.m.: Martinez swings and misses at a drop ball for strike three. Two away as Atwood comes up to the plate.
9:16 p.m.: Scott lays off a down-and-away pitch for a second straight walk. Martinez will bat with runners on first and second.
9:13 p.m.: Dayton works a nine-pitch walk with one out.
9:09 p.m.: Ashton Maloney grounds out to second to lead off the bottom of the third.
9:04 p.m. End top third: Morgan limits the damage with a double play off the bat of Sanders, but with three runs across, the Sooners have taken early control of this game.
9:04 p.m.: The hits keep coming for Oklahoma as Boone grounds a base hit through the middle.
9:01 p.m.: The three homers will chase Kavan. Mac Morgan will come out to pitch for the Longhorns. Only one out in the top of the third.
9 p.m. Oklahoma scoring play: Now Pickering gets into one. She hits a homer to straightaway center, and the Sooners extend their lead to four runs. Oklahoma 5, Texas 1
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 6, 2024
8:58 p.m. Oklahoma scoring play: Another big fly for the Sooners. Hansen cranks a 2-1 rise ball to the left field bleachers, and the Sooners now lead 4-1. Oklahoma 4, Texas 1
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 6, 2024
8:57 p.m.: Brito lifts the 2-1 offering to center for a flyout.
8:55 p.m.: Parker is now 2-for-2 today as she hits a hard grounder under the glove of Martinez at shortstop for a base hit.
8:51 p.m. End of second: Kayden Henry goes down swinging at a drop ball as Maxwell sets the Longhorns down in order.
8:49 p.m.: Maxwell gets Joley Mitchell to fly out to center on the 3-2 offering. Two away in the bottom of the second.
8:47 p.m.: Alyssa Washington rips a line drive to center, but right at Coleman for the out.
8:43 p.m. End top second: Massive out for Texas as Kavan gets Jennings to pop out in foul territory to end the top half of the second.
8:42 p.m.: Coleman is on for the second time today, laying off a pitch below the zone to bring up Jennings with two runners on.
8:39 p.m.: Avery Hodge walks to give the Sooners a two-out baserunner.
8:36 p.m.: Cydney Sanders flies out to left for the second out.
8:35 p.m.: Kavan gets Rylie Boone to pop out in foul territory to third to lead off the top of the second.
8:32 p.m. End of first: Katie Stewart grounds out to short to retire the side.
8:31 p.m.: Texas gets a two-out baserunner as Reese Atwood works a seven-pitch walk.
8:28 p.m.: Viviana Martinez flies out to center for the second out.
8:27 p.m. Texas scoring play: The Longhorns answer right back. Mia Scott blasts a solo homer over the right-field wall to put Texas on the board and cut the deficit in half. Oklahoma 2, Texas 1
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) June 6, 2024
8:26 p.m.: Bella Dayton comes up empty on a curveball away from Kelly Maxwell for the first out of the frame.
8:21 p.m. End top first: Parker moves up to third on a wild pitch, but Kavan elicits a groundout from Kasidi Pickering to limit the damage to only two runs in the top of the first.
8:19 p.m.: Kinzie Hansen pops out to shortstop for the second out of the frame.
8:17 p.m.: It takes 22 pitches, but Kavan finally has her first out of the frame as she gets Alyssa Brito to pop out to second on a high rise ball.
8:15 p.m.: Ella Parker rips a double to right field that comes a few feet shy of clearing the wall. She slides in just ahead of the tag.
8:11 p.m. Oklahoma scoring play: The Sooners strike first. Texas surrenders runs for the first time in the College World Series as Tiare Jennings rips a two-run homer to center to put Oklahoma on top early. Still no one out for Oklahoma. Oklahoma 2, Texas 0
🤯 @_tiarejennings absolutely crushed her 11th career WCWS home run 👊#ChampionshipMindset | @espn pic.twitter.com/orKm9OoLqf
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 6, 2024
8:09 p.m.: Jayda Coleman is hit on the forearm by the 2-1 pitch to give the Sooners a leadoff baserunner.
8:09 p.m.: The first pitch from Teagan Kavan is taken for a ball, and this game is underway.
7:59 p.m.: The national anthem and flyover are all wrapped up. This game is just about to get underway.
7:43 p.m.: Here’s a look at the lineups for the two teams:
Oklahoma
Jayda Coleman, CFTiare Jennings, SSElla Parker, DPAlyssa Brito, 3BKinzie Hansen, CKasidi Pickering, LFRylie Boone, RFCydney Sanders, 1BAvery Hodge, 2B
P: Kelly Maxwell
Texas
Bella Dayton, LFMia Scott, 3BViviana Martinez, SSReese Atwood, CKatie Stewart, 1BAlyssa Washington, 2BJoley Mitchell, DPKayden Henry, CFAshton Maloney, RF
P: Teagan Kavan
7:29 p.m.: The teams are each getting their fans hyped up with videos ahead of tonight’s game.
let’s see how great we can be today 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/yN0hMQz0aF
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) June 5, 2024
The Stage Is Set.#ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/iRifoXZ4rL
— Oklahoma Softball (@OU_Softball) June 5, 2024
7:07 p.m.: The logos are getting applied to the dirt at Devon Park as the NCAA gets ready for the final softball games of the year.
The finishing touches 🖌️#WCWS pic.twitter.com/8uahupWyhE
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) June 5, 2024
How to watch 2024 Women’s College World Series finals Game 1
Start time: 8 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. CTTV channel: ESPNLive stream: ESPN+ | Fubo
The final three games of the 2024 NCAA Division I softball season will all be carried by ESPN, each broadcast at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT).
Beth Mowins will handle play by play, with Jessica Mendoza and Michele Smith joining her in the booth to provide analysis. Holly Rowe will be reporting from the dugouts. This marks the 17th time the quartet has worked together for the Women’s College World Series, and it will be Mowins’ 30th edition.
Those hoping to stream the series can find it on ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Women’s College World Series schedule 2024
Wednesday, June 5
Game 1Time (ET)TV channel/live streamNo. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma8 p.m.ESPN, ESPN+, Fubo
Thursday, June 6
Game 2Time (ET)TV channel/live streamNo. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma8 p.m.ESPN, ESPN+, Fubo
Friday, June 7
Game 3*Time (ET)TV channel/live streamNo. 1 Texas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma8 p.m.ESPN, ESPN+, Fubo
* – If necessary
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