This time took a little longer.
The result, however, was similar.
OU’s offense adjusted to the pitcher it was facing in clear fashion, unfolded, and once again the Sooners earned a win at the Women’s College World Series.
On Saturday it was Hailey Dolcini of Texas who the Sooners adapted to and the result was not as dramatic but still powerful as OU moved within a championship series win with a win 7 -2 over the Longhorns in Saturday’s winners group at American Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
OU (56-2) advances to Monday’s semifinal at 11 a.m. where they will face the winner of Sunday’s game between UCLA and the loser of Saturday’s late game between Oklahoma State and Florida.
Texas (44-20-1) takes on Arizona in a playoff game at 6 p.m. Sunday.
The Sooners got to Dolcini quickly, as a Jayda Coleman brace and Jocelyn Alo’s 118th career home run gave the OU a 2-0 lead just two batters into the game.
After:How OU softball’s Rylie Boone had his breakout match of a WCWS breakout season
Then Dolcini settled in, working effectively against the Sooners hitters.
Dolcini dotted the strike zone, OU consistently took first serves and often found himself behind quickly at the count.
Once again, Rylie Boone was the first indicator of a different approach at the plate.
In Thursday’s 13-2 win over Northwestern to open the WCWS, it was Boone’s third-inning brace that showed how the Sooners had adapted to changing Wildcats pitcher Danielle Williams.
This time it took until round five before Boone showed the change in approach.
The Owasso junior laid down a single bunt on the first pitch of the inning, leaping in excitement as she safely crossed the base just before the pitch.
Jana Johns followed that up by laying down a sacrificial bunt herself on the first pitch before Coleman – again on the first pitch – drove a double into the gap to center right to score Boone and put the Sooners in lead 3-1.
Alo was also aggressive in attacking Dolcini, committing three straight pitches before throwing another run with a single down the middle and chasing Dolcini out of the game.
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Tiare Jennings then hosted Sophia Simpson with a two-run homer deep into the left field bleachers to extend OU’s lead to 6-1.
For the second game in a row, Patty Gasso threw Hope Trautwein into the circle, and once again Trautwein came out big.
The Longhorns went up the board in the first when Alyssa Washington led Mia Scott with a brace down the left field line after Scott singled and stole the second.
Texas had plenty of chances to add to the score, with base runners every inning, but Trautwein (20-1) continually found ways to escape.
Janae Jefferson of Texas hit a solo homer with one out in the seventh before Trautwein struck out the final two to secure the win.
After:How does the first OU softball loss to Texas affect the WCWS rematch? The earlyers have learned a lot
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