For the first time in school history, the Auburn softball team is competing in the WCWS championship series. Three victories in four days have earned the Tigers a spot in the series and they are set to face the Oklahoma Sooners. There will be an abundance of crimson and cream in the stands on Monday night, as Norman, Oklahoma is only 21 miles from ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
The 3-0 Oklahoma team has defeated Alabama, Michigan and LSU in the series. The Tigers have defeated UCLA, Georgia and Florida State.
Three Sooner victories in Oklahoma City have stretched their win streak to 30 games, which is the longest streak in school history. The win streak is also the longest since Florida’s run in 2009.
The Sooners are coached by Patty Gasso, who is in her 22nd season as the Oklahoma head coach. She has taken the Sooners to the NCAA Tournament each season she has been in Norman, and has lead her team to the WCWS 10 times. Gasso and Oklahoma won the WCWS title in 2000 and 2013. With Gasso being a Hall of Fame coach herself, she is very familiar with Auburn Head Coach Clint Meyers.
“I go way back with Coach (Clint) Myers. We coached -- I coached at Long Beach City College and he was at Central Arizona, so I've known him and the fantastic job that's done for a long time," Gasso said. "I look forward to it."
Oklahoma has starting pitcher Paige Parker to thank for their recent success. Parker has thrown every pitch for the Sooners in this years' NCAA Tournament and has a record of 8-0 this postseason. With the victory over LSU in the semifinals, Parker picked up her 36th victory of the season and has now won 26 straight contests. Parker is expected to start in the circle on Monday night.
"They are very well coached team," said Parker. "We know it's going to be a battle."
The Sooners have scored 17 runs in the WCWS and rank 6th nationally in batting average on the season.
Auburn used three pitchers in Sunday’s game against Florida State. Pitching Coach Corey Meyers will likely turn to Kaylee Carlson, Rachael Walters or Makayla Martin in the circle on Monday night.
The 2016 WCWS will start on Monday at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. First pitch between the Tigers and Sooners is set for 7:00 p.m. CST, and can be seen on ESPN.
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