Oklahoma Defeats Alabama, 4-1, Takes Lead In WCWS Championship Series

The Oklahoma Sooners are one win away from their second national championship, after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide, 4-1, on Monday night, at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, inthe first game of the best-of-three NCAA championship series.

Alabama jumped on top in the bottom half of the fourth inning, to take a 1-0 lead, but Oklahoma scored two runs in both the fifth, and sixth innings, to go on to the three-run victory.

Destinee Martinez, Kaite Norris, and Brianna Turang each collected three hits for the Sooners, while Jessica Shults drove in two runs.

Keilani Ricketts (37-7) recorded the win for Oklahoma, allowing only five hits, one walk, and one run, while striking out 12 batters, while Jackie Traina (40-3) suffered the loss for the Crimson Tide.

With the win, Oklahoma improved to 54-8 on the year, while Alabama fell to 58-8.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Tuesday night, at 7 pm.

If Oklahoma wins, they would capture their first national championship since 2000. If Alabama wins, it would force a game on Wednesday.  

View the game box score.