Posted 06/06/16, 10:42 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY  (AM News Net)  –  The Auburn Tigers (56-11) and Oklahoma Sooners (56-7) collided this evening in the first game of the 2016 Women's College World Series finals. The teams, so far both undefeated in the championships, were hunting for an early victory to gain the advantage in the best-two-out-of-three finals. The Sooners, who were starting four freshmen, planned to defend their home state, and despite a late rally by the Tigers, stopped them dead in their tracks, and won 3-2.

The game was mainly decided by the defense of the teams. By the top of the third inning, Auburn's senior pitcher Lexi Davis had thrown 25 pitches. Oklahoma's Paige Parker had only thrown 15. 

Although Auburn managed to earn two runs with a hit by senior Jane Rhodes, Oklahoma tagged out Auburn freshman Casey McCrackin as she attempted to run home to tie the game in the seventh inning, causing the crowd to go wild.

"I know how hard our defense works every day at practice, and for them to come up big like that, it's just something really special," Oklahoma senior pitcher Paige Parker said. "I just have the utmost confidence in our defense, and they came up really big tonight."

The Auburn Tigers, who have never been to a WCWS finals round before, were unable to support their own defense.

"[Lexi Davis] pitched well enough to win, we just didn't support her defensively or offensively,." Auburn head coach Clint Myers said.

Nevertheless, Myers is proud of the team, and commends the effort. 

"Defense can kills rallies," Myers said. "Defense can win ballgames, and we did a pretty good job with the defense today. I mean, like I said, [Davis] gave up seven hits. Five of them never left the infield. I mean, that's pretty good pitching. That's pretty good defense."

The next game will be tomorrow at 7:00 PM CST. Auburn must win to force game three.
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