OU ties Division I softball mark with 47th straight win, topping Clemson in super regionals

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Haley Lee’s grand slam helped put Oklahoma in the history books.

The Sooners matched the longest winning ever in Division I softball, claiming their 47th straight victory with a 9-2 win over Clemson on Friday in super regional play. Oklahoma tied Arizona’s run that started in 1996 and stretched into the 1997 season.

Oklahoma (55-1) handled Clemson pitcher Valerie Cagle — one of three finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Cagle gave up eight runs on seven hits in four innings.

Top-seeded Oklahoma can gain sole possession of the record with a win over the 16th-seeded Tigers on Saturday. A victory also would send the two-time defending national champion Sooners back to the Women’s College World Series. A Clemson win would force a winner-take-all game on Sunday.

Oklahoma, which entered the super regional leading the nation in fielding percentage, committed two errors in the fifth. Clemson scored two runs in the inning and loaded the bases with just one out, but Oklahoma pitcher Jordy Bahl escaped without allowing further damage.

Oklahoma loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth before Lee’s blast chased Cagle.

Bahl got the win for the Sooners. She gave up eight hits, but just two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Cagle had three hits, but did not score as Clemson left nine runners on.