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OKLAHOMA CITY – At first, it was hard to tell where Jocelyn Alo's monster was going.
Alo's two-point explosion in the fifth inning allowed Oklahoma to defeat Alabama 7-3 on Sunday night to qualify for the Women's College World Series championship round. He cleared center seats, cameras and a 300-foot-slow fence in the middle to give the Sooners a 4-1 lead.
"It quickly disappeared into darkness," said Oklahoma coach Patty Gasso. "I saw it hit some shots, but I would say it 's probably there, among the farthest I've ever seen, usually the one that strikes the farther away than I' ve seen. have never seen. "
Alo said that she knew it was a home run right away.
"Sweet," she said. "It seemed easy to me."
Oklahoma (57-4) will play UCLA in a best-of-three series starting Monday. Oklahoma is looking for its third title in four years and its fourth title this year. UCLA has 12 national titles, but none since 2010.
"We must have a crazy fight," said Gasso. "I know both teams are a little exhausted, you have a chance – there are two teams that have a chance to win a national championship, there is no fatigue, no pain. . & # 39; & # 39;
UCLA went on to qualify when Rachel Garcia, 10th in the match, beat Washington 3-0 on Sunday. Garcia also launched 179 fields and pulled out 16 to win.
Alabama (60-10) should have bounced Oklahoma twice on Sunday to advance as Oklahoma had beaten the Crimson Tide on Thursday and the Sooners were unbeaten in double elimination format. In the first game, Alabama striker Caroline Hardy selected Kloyee Anderson in the bottom of the eighth to win a 1-0 win over Crimson Tide.
"That's what you dream of doing," said Hardy. "You dream about it when a little boy gets deceived, your team comes and hugs in the middle of the field."
In the second match, Oklahoma started their attack early. Caleigh Clifton doubled to score Sydney Romero, then Clifton scored on a wild pitch to give the Sooners a 2-0 lead in the first set.
Oklahoma started Giselle's "G & # 39; Juarez, but she was replaced in the second run shortly after giving up a solo circuit at Reagan Dykes.Before going to Mariah Lopez, it worked – Lopez won after conceding two points in four.
The Alo circuit provided cushioning to the Sooners, but Skylar Wallace 's two – run homer in the sixth cut ahead of Oklahoma at 4-3.
Nicole Mendes of Oklahoma responded in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run run that gave the Sooners a 6-3 lead. Grace Lyons threw on a solo blast that made her 7-3.
"Once Jocelyn hit his home run, it's as if a spark had been lit," Mendes said. "Once this team had a spark, it's really hard to stop." Without a doubt, we made ourselves a lot freer, so to speak, we started the movement. "
Alabama felt that she was proving that she was better than her seed number 8. The Crimson Tide beat Florida, Arizona and Oklahoma in the tournament – all the teams ranked higher than them.
"Well, I think with 60 wins, beating the players we beat here, we definitely proved we were in eighth," joked Patrick Murphy, the coach of the team. Alabama. "We were worthy, of course, maybe a little more."
In Sunday's first game, Alabama's freshman, Montana Fouts, was cleared against Oklahoma one day after his defeat against Arizona. Murphy said that she had a promising future.
"I think the sky is the limit because she's really learning to throw," said Murphy. "When she has different steps she will really turn in the right direction, up and down, in and out, she will be really, very good."
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