(Updated)Auburn falls to Oklahoma in NCAA softball title game

Auburn pinch-hitter Courtney Shea folded her body behind first, hands on her knees as a slew of opposing white jersey’s made their way to the circle behind her.

Auburn was unable to summon the seventh-inning magic it had hung its hat on all tournament, falling 2-1 to Oklahoma in Game 3 of the Women’s College World Series championship series on Wednesday night. The win gives the Sooners (57-8) their third WCWS title, while the Tigers end their season at 58-12.

“They gave their heart, their soul and their commitment,” Auburn coach Clint Myers said. “They battled, they were relentless. We lost to an outstanding Oklahoma team.”

A day removed from a wild 11-7 win in eight innings, Auburn was unable to rally to keep the game alive in the bottom of the seventh. After back-to-back outs to start the inning, Shea grounded out to second to end the Tigers’ season.

On her first day of rest since the WCWS began, Oklahoma ace Paige Parker (38-3) was dominant in the circle. The sophomore left-hander pitched a complete game, giving up one earned run on five hits and a walk while striking out five batters.

Parker retired the final 12 batters she faced. Over 14 innings against Auburn in the WCWS title series, Parker allowed three earned runs on nine hits while striking out six. After the game she was named the tournament’s most outstanding player.

“I just kind of took myself to another level,” Parker said. “I just went into another gear, and I was willing to do whatever I had to to help this team win.”

Early defensive miscues continued to haunt Auburn, as second baseman Emily Carosone made back-to-back errors to give the Sooners their first run of the game.

With one out and runner on second, Carosone muffed a ground ball, allowing Shay Knighten to reach and Caleigh Clifton to take third. Carosone then tried to fake a throw to first but spiked the ball into the dirt, allowing the run to score and Knighten to move to second.

“I don’t get it, that’s never happened before,” Carosone said of the second error. “But it happened today, it slipped.”

Later in the inning, with Knighten on third and two outs, Fale Aviu legged out an infield single to short to put Oklahoma up 2-0.

Jade Rhodes cut the Sooners lead in half, crushing a solo home run well over the fence in left to lead off the fourth inning. However, that would be all the Tigers would get against Parker.

Auburn’s best opportunity came in the third when the Tigers loaded the bases with no outs for Carosone, who had delivered the game-winning grand slam in Monday night’s win.

However, the senior was unable to come through, striking out before Carlee Wallace ended the rally with an inning-ending double play.

“During the fall, I sat in front of my locker and just prayed, ‘God I want to make it to the very last day. I want to play every game possible,”’ Carosone said. “I got it. I mean the team was good enough to win. The team is going to come back next year, and they are going to come back strong.”

Despite the lack of run support, freshman starter Makayla Martin (15-4) kept Auburn in the game. Martin, who earned the win Monday night, gave up two unearned runs on five hits and two walks over six innings.

“She pitched her ass off,” Myers said. “... That’s the best way to describe it.”

The 58 wins are a new program best for the Tigers, who were making their second consecutive trip to the WCWS. In his third season since taking over as head coach, Myers has led the Tigers to a 156-42-1 record.

“I know he’s going to lead this whole team,” Rhodes said of Myers. “This is going to be a great turnaround... He’s not going to quit teaching. He’s going to tell them what he told us... We aren’t slowing down.”

This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 9:24 PM with the headline "(Updated)Auburn falls to Oklahoma in NCAA softball title game."