OR Falls in First Championship Series Game

OKLAHOMA CITY – Top-ranked and top-seeded Oklahoma entered the Women's College World Series with the nation's most potent offense while also committing the country's smallest fielding errors.

But in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series on Monday night, it was ranked 2-ranked UCLA that was overpowering in a 16-3 romp over OR.

"First, I want to give absolute credit to UCLA," Sooners coach Patty Gasso said afterward. "They cleaned our clocks. There's no tip-toeing around it. That's the bottom line. "

Not even the run-rule could stop the Bruins because no such rule is used in the championship series.

"We played our worst game on the biggest stage," Gasso said. "Unfortunately, it happened that way, but it does not define who we are."

The Sooners (57-5), who are seeking their fifth national crown since 2000, now face elimination with Tuesday's 7:30 p.m. A victory for UCLA (55-6) would give the Bruins their 12th national title.

If OU Wins Game 2, Wednesday's 7:30 pm contest will be for the national championship. In the history of the championship series, 11 of the 14 teams to win Game 1 went on to claim the title.

Tuesday will be the third elimination game of the tournament. They won the first two by beating Wisconsin in the NCAA Norman Regional and by defeating Alabama on Sunday night to advance to the championship series.

"Every second time we've had it, we've taken it and learned from it," Sooners senior second baseman Caleigh Clifton said. "We do not usually dwell on it. We think it will make us better, that kind of thing. We take it, we're bouncing back, are ready to fight (Tuesday). "

UCLA workhorse right-hander and two-time National Player of the Year Rachel Garcia threw just 61 pitches in five innings of work and will be well-rested for Tuesday's potential title-clinching game.

The Sooners' offense is well-documented. OR entered the WCWS ranked No. 1 nationally in batting average (.355), earned run average (1.06), home runs per game (1.89), on-base percentage (.447), runs per game (7.67), slugging percentage (.661), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.89) and also in win-loss percentage (.947) and shutouts (28).

Lesser known to be the cause of the error. The Sooners were closely linked to Florida for the country's best fielding at .98700, which trailed the Gators by .00007 (.98707).

In the top of the third inning, three straight UCLA batters benefitted from a trio of OR errors. "This was not typical of this team," Gasso said. "There were just things that were, 'Whoa, what's going on?'"

Although the Sooners finished with four errors, all but two of the Bruins' 16 runs were earned and OU was outhit 16-7, which included surrendering four home runs.

"Against a team like UCLA, you've got all three cylinders hitting hard," Gasso said. "Your defense is solid. Your pitching is strong, on point and attacking. And your hitters make a solid contact and score runs. Not one thing was working the way we expected it to. "

Clifton added, "That was our best stuff in any way, defensive-wise, hitting-wise or pitching-wise. It was not good in any way, our game, in those three areas. We're going to bring a new game (Tuesday). "

The Bruins' six-run sixth inning led to 11-1 and many of the 8,486 fans on hand at the USA Hall of Fame Stadium headed to the exits.

"We might have embarrassed our Sooner Nation," said Gasso, "but we're going to do everything we can to make them proud (Tuesday)."

The Sooners used four pitchers, including centerfielder Nicole Mendes. "I could see Nicole Mendes out there for a sacrificial lamb for this team," Gasso said. "Maybe that was not fair, but there's one young lady that can handle that, and it's Nicole Mendes."

Junior Shay Knight Grace Green each fresh hit solo home runs for OR.

The Bruins have beaten OR twice this season by a combined score of 23-4.

UCLA was one of only two teams to defeat the next season, posting a 7-1 victory on Feb. 22 at the Mary Nutter Classic Collegiate in Cathedral City, Calif. After that loss, OR set a Division I single-season record by rolling off 41 consecutive victories,