Cydney Sanders, Alynah Torres have a 'rebirth' for OU at WCWS, help Sooners dominate Duke

OKLAHOMA CITY – OU softball head coach Patty Gasso simply never went away from them. It didn’t matter how much Alynah Torres or Cydney Sanders had been struggling at the plate, Gasso had the belief.

You get into the Women’s College World Series, and you can turn your season around with one swing. OU will need more of that the rest of the way, but what it got from them Thursday is a great start.

Both Torres and Sanders hit two-run home runs as No. 2 OU dominated No. 10 Duke 9-1 in a six-inning, run-rule to begin the WCWS at OGE Field at Devon Park.

OU advances in the winner’s bracket to take on No. 6 UCLA at 2 p.m. Saturday on ABC.

Sanders was among the best OU hitters in March, hitting one home run after another. But the last two months have been a grind. And not always a fun one, moving down to the nine-spot in the order in recent weeks.

Her defense kept her in the lineup, same with Torres. And they just had to keep battling, keep battling and believing.

“I think it’s a big thing because it’s coming in the postseason,” Sanders said. “Like everything before for me doesn’t really matter. It’s what’s going on right now. I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball to everybody, but it finally fell today. I’m just happy as can be, honestly.”

Sanders’ two-run bomb gave OU a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Her teammates had already given everybody a sigh of relief with a four-run bottom of the third.

All four of those runs came with two outs. Co-captain Kinzie Hansen got it started with a two-run home run to give OU a 2-1 advantage.

Following a walk to Alyssa Brito, it was Torres’ turn to hit the two-run shot.

“Since they’ve been here, they’ve really been trying to be the hitters that they were at Arizona State before they got here,” Gasso said. “It really doesn’t matter to me what you’ve done through the season. This is where everyone’s going to remember it.

“For Cyd Sanders, I am thrilled. Every time she takes a swing, everybody is like, whoa, a swing and miss. Sometimes she’ll cheat herself. She really was focused. You could feel that. She had good BP, good week of practice. Alynah just loves big moments, too. I’m really excited for both of them going forward.”

Brito sent everybody home with a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth.

A complete game

That’s what Gasso is looking for. She said Wednesday that if two parts of the OU machine are working, it’s tough. But when OU has hitting, pitching and defense? Well, good luck.

The hitting was checked off early. Pitching was a combo effort from Kelly Maxwell and Kierston Deal. The two combined for the six innings, allowing just four hits.

And defense? Jayda Coleman did it again. With OU up 4-1 in the top of the fourth, Duke had bases loaded and two outs.

Gasso took out and put in Kierston Deal. And then Coleman does what she does. She didn’t climb a wall this time. No, instead it was a diving grab on a shallow fly ball that saved two runs.

“It’s game-winning, game-changing one way or the other,” Gasso said. “If she doesn’t make the play, a rally is created. If she does make the play, momentum comes in our dugout.

“What she’s been doing, she loves these big moments. She’s her best in these situations, in this venue, in this World Series. It’s her favorite thing to do.”

The adjustment

Who knows what might have happened if Hansen didn’t hit the two-run homer in the third? Jala Wright came in relief for Duke and struck out two batters.

She was one out away from keeping Duke with the 1-0 lead.

“I noticed the at-bats before me, she was kind of trying to pound the zone early with really what’s just a good strike,” Hansen said. “We were taking it the first couple at-bats. I’m pretty sure Ella got walked before me, or somebody was on first base.

“In my mind I just went up thinking 70, she’s got to come early for a strike at-bat. I loaded early and saw the ball kind of middle, just went for it. That’s really the adjustment.”

Hansen drove in three runs.

Historic (and familiar) foe up next

No. 2 OU has UCLA on Saturday afternoon. The Bruins earned a 4-1 victory against No. 14 Alabama to begin Thursday’s action. Jordan Woolery broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth. UCLA has the longest current winning streak in the nation at 14 games.

“We have a big history here at the World Series, without question,” Gasso said. “Very respectful. A lot of our players know their players. They probably know more UCLA players than any other team. So there’s that connection.

“Absolute respect. I got to tell you, too, I just respect the Pac-12. The Pac-12 started softball really. That’s kind of what I was watching when I would come here to the World Series. It was always UCLA and Arizona. They are the stepping stones that led to other teams.”