Kinzie Hansen, Sooners Create Magic in Final Game at Marita Hynes Field…

The Oklahoma Sooners bid farewell to their beloved Marita Hynes Field in dramatic fashion this weekend, providing another unforgettable chapter in their storied history. The team, known for its flair for the dramatic and “Sooner Magic,” delivered an electrifying performance that will be etched in the memories of both players and fans for years to come.

Oklahoma wasted no time getting things started, launching a pair of home runs in the opening inning. Jayda Coleman and Tiare Jennings hit back-to-back bombs to give the Sooners an early 2-0 lead, setting the stage for what seemed like a potential blowout. However, Clemson wasn’t about to let the game slip away so easily.

Despite the early deficit, Tigers’ starter Brooke McCubbin settled in, keeping the Sooners from adding to their lead. In the fourth inning, Alyssa Brito’s home run and a Sophia Nugent fielder’s choice RBI pushed Oklahoma’s advantage to 4-0. At that point, the Sooners appeared poised to run away with the game and punch their ticket to the Women’s College World Series.

But Clemson wasn’t finished. The Tigers responded with a vengeance in the fourth inning, as Maddie Moore crushed a three-run home run to pull her team within one. The momentum completely shifted in the fifth inning when McKenzie Clark added a two-run shot to cap off a five-run frame that put Clemson ahead 7-4.

It marked a historic moment for the Sooners, who had not allowed more than five runs in a game all season. Their pitching staff, which featured the likes of Jordy Bahl, Nicole May, Alex Storako, and Kierston Deal, had been nearly flawless. The sudden outburst from Clemson was a rare and startling challenge to Oklahoma’s dominance.

After a scoreless sixth inning, it appeared as though the Sooners’ remarkable 47-game win streak might be coming to an end. With one final opportunity in the seventh, Oklahoma mounted their last stand. Rylie Boone led off the inning with a single, and with two outs, Haley Lee kept the rally alive. That’s when the moment that everyone had been waiting for arrived.

Kinzie Hansen, the senior catcher, stepped up to the plate with a chance to extend the game. And with one swing, she did just that. Hansen launched a three-run home run that sent the Sooners’ dugout into a frenzy, tied the game at 7-7, and brought a sense of inevitability to the dramatic finish.

The Sooners, with their trademark resilience, had completed yet another stunning comeback. The win not only secured their 48th consecutive victory but also clinched their spot in the Women’s College World Series for the seventh straight year. It was a victory made even more poignant by the fact that it came on the birthday of head coach Patty Gasso, who has led the team to unparalleled success.

This emotional win also symbolized the end of an era at Marita Hynes Field, a venue that has been home to so many of the program’s greatest moments. Throughout the weekend, Oklahoma softball celebrated its rich history at the field, with alumni returning to honor the place that had witnessed so many milestones. For players like Hansen, Jennings, and the rest of the Sooners, it was the perfect way to close this chapter leaving with another unforgettable memory.

As Oklahoma prepares for their new home at Love’s Field, this victory will forever stand as a reminder of the magic that has defined the Sooners’ time at Marita Hynes Field. A storybook ending, indeed, for one of the greatest programs in college softball history.