Coach Patty Gasso and the second-seeded OU softball team will begin the Women's College World Series against Tennessee on Thursday at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. The four-time defending WCWS champion Sooners are in the WCWS for the ninth consecutive time — the second-longest streak of all-time behind Arizona's record 16 consecutive appearances from 1988-2003.

Tennessee softball took a "gut-punch" from Oklahoma in walkoff loss in WCWS, but UT is no stranger to playing with its back against the wall.

Tennessee softball was one out away from upsetting Oklahoma to open the WCWS, but Ella Parker's three-run homer walked it off for the Sooners.