Oklahoma, Baylor make statements in OKC
In a year that was highlighted by the Southeastern Conference and the Pac-12, the Women’s College World Series presented an unexpected matchup under the lights at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium.
The No. 10 seed Oklahoma hosted the No. 15 and conference foe Baylor. They are two of the lowest seeds in the tournament and neither has seen its home field since Regionals.
At the start of the game Thursday night, they were the first and only teams not in the SEC of Pac-12 to play at the WCWS. They both have players that are unfamiliar to the rest of the country.
Oklahoma is the defending National Champion and has fought its way back to Oklahoma City via the loser’s bracket in Regionals and then took back-to-back games in Auburn.
“We like being under the radar,” said Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso. “We don’t need the limelight, we don’t need the headlines. We just come in and play ball. It doesn’t bother our team. If anything it motivates us but we don’t need the spotlight. We like where we’re at.”
Freshman Nicole Mendes has made a state for the Sooners. She didn’t start the season in the starting lineup but ever since she has hit safely in 40 of her last 45 games.
“Honestly, whenever I go up there I just want to look for my pitch and when I see it, I just want to hit the ball hard,” said Mendes. “I’m not really trying to swing for the fences or do anything spectacular. I’m just trying to get my job done.”
Baylor, on the other hand, swept its Regional and came from behind to beat Arizona in three games in the Tucson Super Regional.
“I definitely do think that we are under the radar,” said Jessie Scroggins. “It (being at the WCWS) just proves to show that we can compete with the SEC and Pac-12. We just upset Arizona and you saw people voting against us to not even win. We’re here and we can compete with those other teams.”
One factor that has kept Baylor going is no longer a secret weapon but the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year in Scroggins. The junior centerfielder has been a human highlight reel over the course of the season and Oklahoma took notice last night when runners were held instead of advancing on balls hit to her.
“It’s always been my style of play,” said Scroggins, who has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on 103 putouts and eight assists. “I like to go all out because I know my left fielder and right fielder are there to back me up.”
Oklahoma is back in action on Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT against Washington and Baylor will play Saturday against Oregon at 1:30 p.m.
