Oklahoma
Oklahoma ties Division I softball mark with 47th straight win, topping Clemson in super regionals
OKLAHOMA CITY — 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.
Oklahoma State’s Morgyn Wynne during an NCAA softball game against Oregon on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Stillwater, Okla. Credit: AP/Garett Fisbeck
Cagle had three hits, but did not score as Clemson left nine runners on.
PERFECT START
Oklahoma State pitcher Kelly Maxwell was two outs from a perfect game in Game 2 of the Stillwater Super Regional before Oregon’s Allee Bunker broke it up with a single in the seventh inning.
Maxwell registered a strikeout for the first out in the seventh before Bunker’s hit took the energy out of the home crowd.
Oklahoma State’s Micaela Wark slides into home past Oregon’s Terra McGowan during an NCAA softball game on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Stillwater, Okla. Credit: AP/Garett Fisbeck
Maxwell still managed a two-hitter, and No. 6 seed Oklahoma State defeated the Ducks 9-0 to advance to the World Series for the fourth consecutive season. The Cowgirls won the first game 8-1 on Thursday.
NEAR CYCLE
Oklahoma State’s Kiley Naomi nearly hit for the cycle against Oregon on Friday.
She went 4 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. She singled in the first inning, doubled in the fourth and hit a three-run homer in the fifth that broke the game open. She needed a triple in the seventh to hit for the cycle, but settled for a second double.
FSU CLINCHES
Florida State held on to beat Georgia 4-2 and advance to the World Series.
Georgia made things interesting late, putting runners on second and third with two outs against Seminoles ace Kathryn Sandercock. But a fly out to left ended the threat, and third-seeded Florida State celebrated.
Florida State won the opener 8-1 on Thursday.
ROUGH RETURN
Alabama pitcher Montana Fouts returned after missing regional play with a hyperextended left knee, but it didn’t go as planned for the Crimson Tide. Northwestern defeated Alabama 3-1 in the first game of the Tuscaloosa Super Regional.
Fouts, who entered super regional play as the nation’s leader in strikeouts, wore a brace over the knee. She didn’t have the usual velocity on her pitches and her mobility was limited. She lasted 3 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on five hits.
Jaala Torrence, who carried Alabama through the regional, stepped in and gave up two hits in 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Danielle Williams got the win for Northwestern. She allowed just one run on six hits and struck out six.
Northwestern can clinch a second straight World Series trip with a win on Saturday. An Alabama win would force a decisive game on Sunday.
YOUNG DOMINANCE
Stanford freshman NiJaree Canady was ready for the big stage.
She gave up one run on four hits to help the No. 9 seed Cardinal defeat No. 8 seed Duke 3-1 in the first game of the Durham Super Regional on Friday.
Canady entered the game with a 15-1 record and a 0.46 ERA. She threw 97 pitches against Duke on Friday, including 75 for strikes.
PUNI LOOMS LARGE
Zaidi Puni has gone on an unexpected home run binge for Tennessee.
Puni, an All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection as an infielder, had only eight home runs heading into NCAA Tournament play. She hit four home runs in regional play, then cranked a three-run blast off the scoreboard in the Knoxville Super Regional opener that helped the No. 4 seed Lady Vols beat Texas 5-2.
Texas, which reached the championship series at the World Series last year, now will need to win Saturday and Sunday to get back.
RUN RULE
Ruby Meylan threw a two-hitter, and Washington defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 8-0 in five innings to win the Seattle Super Regional opener. Meylan struck out seven in five innings.
Oklahoma football has one more shot to close out its 2024 season on a high note.
The Sooners (6-6) take on Navy (9-3) in the Armed Forces Bowl at 11 a.m. CT Friday in Amon G. Carter Stadium, located on the TCU campus in Fort Worth, Texas, with a chance to finish 2024 with a winning record. Oklahoma earned a clutch upset victory over Alabama on Nov. 23 to become bowl-eligible and keep alive the second-longest bowl streak in the nation.
The last time the Sooners played, LSU defeated them 37-17 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The team will look to bounce back and close out coach Brent Venables’ third year with a winning record. He has a 22-16 record with Oklahoma.
Watch Armed Forces Bowl live with Fubo (free trial)
Navy defeated Army 31-13 to earn the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on Dec. 14, having defeated Air Force earlier in the season. The Midshipmen are seeking their first 10-win season since 2019. Navy is 1-0 all-time vs. Oklahoma, earning a 10-0 win on Oct. 2, 1965, in Norman.
Here’s how to watch the Oklahoma vs. Navy game, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:
What channel is Oklahoma vs Navy on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Livestream: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
The Sooners will take on the Midshipmen on ESPN. Courtney Lyle (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst) will be on the bowl matchup broadcast.
The game can also be streamed on the ESPN app (with a cable login) or Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers select users a free trial.
Oklahoma vs Navy time today
- Date: Friday, Dec. 27
- Start time: 11 a.m. CT
Oklahoma and Navy will play at 11 a.m. CT at Amon G. Carter Stadium, located on the TCU campus in Fort Worth, Texas.
Oklahoma vs Navy predictions, picks, odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Dec. 26
- ODDS: Oklahoma (-3)
- O/U: 43.5
- Moneyline: Oklahoma (-155) | Navy (+130)
Prediction: Oklahoma 24, Navy 20
Oklahoma football schedule 2024
- Friday, Aug. 30: vs. Temple (W, 51-3)
- Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Houston (W, 16-12)
- Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. Tulane (W, 34-19)
- Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. No. 6 Tennessee* (L, 25-15)
- Saturday, Sept. 28: at Auburn* (W, 27-21)
- Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. No. 1 Texas* (L, 34-3)
- Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. South Carolina* (L, 35-9)
- Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 18 Ole Miss* (L, 26-14)
- Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. Maine (W, 59-14)
- Saturday, Nov. 9: at No 24 Missouri* (L, 30-23)
- Saturday, Nov. 16: BYE
- Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Alabama* (W, 24-3)
- Saturday, Nov. 30: at LSU* (L, 37-17)
- Friday, Dec. 27: vs. Navy (Armed Forces Bowl)
- Record: 11-2, 2-6 SEC
* Denotes SEC game
Navy football 2024 schedule
- Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Bucknell (W, 49-21)
- Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Temple* (W, 38-11)
- Saturday, Sept. 14: BYE
- Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. No. 23 Memphis* (W, 56-44)
- Saturday, Sept. 28: at UAB* (W, 41-18)
- Saturday, Oct. 5: at Air Force (W, 34-7)
- Saturday, Oct. 12: BYE
- Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. Charlotte* (W, 51-17)
- Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. No. 11 Notre Dame (L, 51-14)
- Saturday, Nov. 2: at Rice* (L, 24-10)
- Saturday, Nov. 9: at South Florida* (W, 28-7)
- Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Tulane* (L, 35-0)
- Saturday, Nov. 23: BYE
- Friday, Nov. 29: at East Carolina* (W, 34-20)
- Saturday, Dec. 14: vs. No. 18 Army (W, 31-13)
- Friday, Dec. 27: vs. Oklahoma (Armed Forces Bowl)
- Record: 9-3, 6-2 AAC
* Denotes AAC game
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Oklahoma State has plenty of talent to replace next season, but no one will be more difficult to replace than its star receiver.
Over the past few years, no one has embodied the OSU program better than Brennan Presley. Since he stepped on the field for the first time in 2020, he has been a symbol of consistency for the Pokes.
Although he has played significant roles on a couple of OSU teams that made the Big 12 Championship, he had no issues staying focused throughout the three-win campaign in 2024. In a season where it was easy to find the negatives in just about everything the Cowboys did, Presley remained a bright spot. Entering the season on the Biletnikoff watch list, Presley finished his final collegiate season with 90 catches for 767 yards and seven touchdowns.
The reason Presley will be so difficult to replace is not only because of his impressive numbers each season but also because of how consistent he has been at putting those numbers up.
His consistency led to him breaking the Cowboys’ all-time receptions record in 2024, becoming the first player to cross the 300-catch mark in an OSU uniform by ending his career with 315.
Without Presley out there to be a reliable target next season, there will be some growing pains for whoever suits up under center. Along with always being available for a pass, Presley could be used in a variety of ways.
While it wasn’t his best ability, Presley was also occasionally used as a rusher throughout his career. He ended his OSU tenure with 30 rush attempts for 160 yards and six touchdowns, with most of his carries used as a wrinkle near the goal line.
Of course, the five-year Cowboy was well-known for his ability to return on special teams. His most notable was a kickoff return touchdown in Bedlam in 2021, and 1,667 kick and punt return yards helped him break 5,000 career all-purpose yards.
Want to join the discussion? Like Oklahoma State Cowboys on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
An 8-year-old Oklahoma girl is still missing in Texas after floodwaters carried away the family SUV on Christmas Eve.
According to local reports in Sherman, Texas, the SUV ran off the road into a drainage ditch before succumbing to the flood. The Sherman Police Department said six people were inside the vehicle when it crashed.
Four family members were rescued. CBS News reported that the missing girl’s father, Will Robinson, did not survive. Robinson was a coach for the Durant High School Lady Lions basketball team.
By the afternoon of Christmas Day, searchers had covered seven miles of creek in the area without success.
“We are shifting our focus into the county, targeting some possible locations where we have not looked to as yet,” the department wrote on Facebook Wednesday. “Our search will continue until dark today, then we will resume searching again (Thursday) before daylight.”
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