Sixth Game: Oklahoma 2 Auburn 1

Here we go for the national championship.  One game for glory.  After last night's heroics, can we do it one more time?

The Tigers get off to a shaky start.  Auburn fails to score in the top of the first and Oklahoma gets two runs across on two untypical errors by Emily Carosone and a slow throw to first by our shortstop Oklahoma 2 Auburn 0.

Our ladies get the first two batters on with singles in the top of the second,  but there is a force out at third and two strikeouts ends it.  The Sooners get a single but strand the runner at first. Oklahoma 2 Auburn 0.

In the top of the third the Tigers load the bases on 2 singles and an error by their highly touted picture, but the highly touted pitcher retires the next 3 batters concluding with a 6-4-3 double play.  Oklahoma fails to score in the bottom of the third.  Oklahoma 2 Auburn 0.

After three innings, we've had some base runners but cannot bring them home.  Shaky fielding yielded 2 runs in the first.  Makayla Martin is doing a good job so far in the circle.  Our hitters seem to be taking more pitchers than usual,

In the top of the 4th first batter Jade Rhodes launches a rocket over the left field fence for our first run.  Haley Fagin walks.  Nobody out.  But that's it in the 4th.  The Tigers cut the lead but Oklahoma still leads going into the bottom of the 4th.  OU is scoreless in the bottom of the inning.  Oklahoma 2 Auburn 1.  Tight game as you would expect.  We have to get to their highly touted pitcher.

As we go to the 5th I'm thinking that if we can hold them to two runs we will win this game.

Top of the order up for Auburn.  Tiffany Howard is out on a close play at first.  Kasey Cooper flies out to right.  The count goes to 3 and 1 on Emily Carosone and she takes a called third strike.  Big downer of an inning.  Will Carosone get another chance at the plate?  It's getting late and we trail by a run.  Are we waiting for another dramatic Auburn finish?  It's hard to believe it will happen this time, but are going to need some late innings fireworks.  Oklahoma goes down in order in the fifth.  Oklahoma 2 Auburn 1.

Hitters 4, 5, and 6 up for Auburn to start the 6th.  Something has to happen soon.  But we go in order and OU is scoreless in the bottom of the 6th.

We go to the climactic 7th and Auburn hitters 7,8,and 9 go down in order.  Oklahoma wins the national championship.

If you had told me before this game that Oklahoma would only score 2 runs, I would have bet anything that we would win, but it didn't happen.  Makayla Martin them scoreless for 5 innings, but those 2 errors in the first leading to two runs did us in.

Still a great season for the Auburn softball team.