Coach Patty Gassoand thesecond-seeded OU softball teamopen the Women's College World Series against Duke on Thursday.
Here's what to know when the Sooners (54-6) take on the Blue Devils (52-7):
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OU softball live score updates vs.Duke
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FINAL: OU 9, Duke 1 | Alyssa Brito walks it off
The Sooners defeated Duke 9-1 after Alyssa Brito walked it off in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings.
More:OU softball roars past Duke in WCWS opener after Kinzie Hansen's two-run home run
Top 6: One-two-three inning
Kierston Deal worked a one-two-three inning in the top of the sixth.
Deal has allowed two hits in 2 1/3 innings of work.
Bottom 5: Sooners go down in order
After a three-run fourth inning, OU's bats cooled off in the fifth.
Kasidi Pickering struck out looking, Rylie Boone popped up to Duke's shortstop and Cydney Sanders fouled out to left field.
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Top 5: Kierston Deal notches three quick outs
Kierston Deal allowed a single but recorded three quick outs in the top of the fifth inning.
Sooners shortstop Tiare Jennings made an impressive play in the field that was upheld after an official replay review.
End 4: Cydney Sanders' HR stretches OU lead
Cydney Sanders looked like she'd started to emerge from a slump in last week's super regionals.
Sanders proved it was no fluke, blasting a two-run homer in the fourth to extend the Sooners' lead to 6-1.
The home run was Sanders' 14th of the season but her first since April 16.
Kinzie Hansen drove in another run later in the inning to make it 7-1 Sooners.
Mid-4: Nifty defense helps Sooners escape trouble
Alynah Torres had a big moment in the third, blasting a two-run home run to stretch OU's lead.
Then she came up with a strong play defensively in the next half inning, after Kelly Maxwell had walked the first hitter.
Amiah Burgess hit a soft grounder toward Torres at second and it looked like the runner would at least move up. But Torres charged it, and quickly spun to Tiare Jennings to retire Francesca Frelick at second.
It wasn't easy from there, though, as a hit-by-pitch and a walk loaded the bases drove Kelly Maxwell from the game as Patty Gasso opted to bring in Kierston Deal to face Gisele Tapia.
Tapia sent a floating liner to left-center, but Jayda Coleman raced in and made a diving catch to end the inning.
End 3: Kinzie Hansen's HR puts OU ahead
Kinzie Hansen has been OU's Ms. Clutch.
She did it again Thursday, driving a two-run homer out to left with two outs in the third to give OU a 2-1 lead.
Jayda Coleman led off the inning with a single off Duke starter Cassidy Curd before the Blue Devils brought in Jala Wright.
Wright struck out back-to-back hitters, before Hansen blasted Wright's first pitch over the left-field wall to put the Sooners ahead.
The home run was Hansen's sixth career WCWS home run, tying her for third in WCWS history —and also tying her for third in OU history. Lauren Chamberlain also had six career WCWS home runs. Jocelyn Alo holds the record with 12 while Tiare Jennings has eight.
After Alyssa Brito drew a walk, Alynah Torres took Wright deep once again to put the Sooners up 4-1.
It was Torres' first home run since April 19.
Mid-3: Kelly Maxwell works a quick inning
After struggling with her command in the second, Kelly Maxwell didn't show any such difficulties in the third, needing just seven pitches to retire the side in order.
End 2: Sooners can't take advantage of opportunity
OU had a prime scoring opportunity in the second, with runners on the corners and one out.
But the Sooners couldn't break through, as Rylie Boone hit a hard grounder to short, where Duke shortstop Jada Baker fired home, well ahead of OU's Alyssa Brito.
Brito tried to scramble back to third but was tagged out.
Cydney Sanders then hit a weak pop to second to end the inning.
The Sooners looked like they could've taken the lead just prior to Boone's fielder's choice, with Kasidi Pickering driving a single to the right-center gap. But Patty Gasso held up Brito at third, giving the Blue Devils a chance to escape the jam.
Mid-2: Duke takes the lead on leadoff homer
Duke's Francesca Frelick led off the second with a solo homer to left to get the Blue Devils on the board and put the Sooners in the hole.
After Kelly Maxwell worked a quick first, Frelick reached out to poke Maxwell's 3-1 rise ball over the left-field wall.
The homer was Frelick's third in postseason play.
Maxwell bounced back to strike out the next two hitters before walking Kelly Torres on four consecutive pitches and walking Jada Baker before getting Gisele Tapia flied out to end the inning.
End 1: Sooners can't get on the board in first
Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings started the bottom of the first with back-to-back fly outs off Cassidy Curd before Ella Parker walked on five pitches in her first career WCWS plate appearance.
Kinzie Hansen grounded out to end the inning.
Mid-1: Kelly Maxwell makes quick work of Blue Devils
Kelly Maxwell got out to a quick start for the Sooners, retiring the side in order in the first, including striking out leadoff hitter D'Auna Jennings.
Maxwell then got a flyout and a groundout to end the inning having thrown just nine pitches.
Pregame update: Kelly Maxwell in the circle for the Sooners
OU will go with Kelly Maxwell to open the WCWS in the circle against Duke.
Maxwell (20-2, 1.96 ERA) is coming off a performance against Florida State in the super regional where she walked a season-high six but picked up in the win in the opening game.
Maxwell threw five scoreless innings against the Blue Devils in the Sooners' 3-0 win Feb. 8 in Mexico.
Duke will start sophom*ore Cassidy Curd in the circle.
Curd (13-3, 1.29) threw 2 2/3 innings against the Sooners earlier in the season, allowing three runs with four walks and three strikeouts.
OU softball highlights vs.Dukein WCWS
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What time does OU softball vs.Duke start in WCWS?
- Date:Thursday, May 30
- Time:1:30 p.m. CT
- Where:Devon Park in Oklahoma City
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What channel is OU softball vs.Dukeon today?
- TV:ESPN
- Streaming:ESPN+
- How to watch online:Watch ESPN (here's how to stream it live)
More:Who will OU softball face in WCWS opener? Here are three things to know about Duke
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