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Oklahoma softball first look: Clemson

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo•05/22/23•

BPrzybylo

Valerie Cagle
Valerie Cagle pitched a one-hit shutout for Clemson against rival South Carolina. (Clemson softball/Twitter)

Oklahoma softball was efficient as it gets in disposing of its regional foes last weekend at Marita Hynes Field.

The Sooners outscored Hofstra, Missouri and California 38-3 in earning another regional championship. Advancing to the Super Regionals for the 13th time in a row.

“I think I just try to remind them to not get complacent,” head coach Patty Gasso said. “You could just get bored and kind of sit on a score. To make every opportunity you can to help make you better. To help make this team better. Don’t waste opportunities because we’re ahead. Just keep going.”

There’s only team left to stand between OU and winning streak history. Here comes Clemson to Norman this weekend.

OU and Clemson are, obviously, intertwined a lot through football with head coach Brent Venables and his time at both schools. Now? They’re meeting in softball for the first time ever.

Game one is 1 p.m. Friday on ESPN2. Game two will be Noon (TV TBD). No time or TV has been announced for the ‘if’ game Sunday.

The Sooners are 54-1 overall and riding a 46-game winning streak. OU is two wins away from setting the record for the longest winning streak in NCAA softball history.

As luck would have it, that 48th straight win would occur Saturday and send OU to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series and a chance to earn its third straight national championship.

First Look: No. 16 Clemson

Record: 49-10 (18-6 ACC)

Head coach: John Rittman (154-43 at Clemson)

Wins vs. Super Regional field: Northwestern (2x), Georgia

Best hitter: Valerie Cagle – .467 avg., 19 HR, 57 RBI

Best pitcher: Valerie Cagle – 25-6, 1.20 ERA, 186 K

Road to Norman: W vs. UNC-Greenville (17-2), W vs. Auburn (7-0), L vs. Auburn (5-2), W vs. Auburn (5-1).

The story: Cagle is the type of two-way threat OU hasn’t seen this season. She is one of the three finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Clemson is reaching the Super Regional for the second year in a row. The Tigers were a top-10 team halfway through the season before stumbling a bit down the stretch. Clemson was 37-1 and ranked No. 3 in the beginning of April.

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