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Top Teams Face Some Challenges, But Mostly Roll On

No. 1 Oklahoma extended its record to 29-0 with a three-game sweep over Baylor. The first two games of the series were run-rule routs, but the Sooners nearly lost on Sunday, before prevailing 3-1 with a two-out rally. As described in this article from the OU athletics website: 

In clutch fashion, the Oklahoma offense responded in the seventh. Down to their last out, pinch hitter Kinzie Hansen laced a single to right field before a single to left from Mackenzie Donihoo put two runners on base to set the stage for the top of the lineup. On a 3-1 count, [Tiare] Jennings blasted her 12th home run of the season on a three-run shot to center field to walk off the Bears and keep OU's record perfect.

No. 2 Florida State suffered only its second loss of the season, dropping the middle game of a three-game set with Boston College.

No. 3 UCLA swept Washington in Seattle to extend the Bruins' winning streak to 21 games. 

***

It was announced over the weekend that Florida Atlantic University coach and softball legend Joan Joyce had died at age 81. As this ESPN.com article noted, Joyce was officially in her 28th season this year at the Owls' helm, but "was away from the team this spring after undergoing a medical procedure." A list of Joyce's accomplishments is available here. Two of her most notable achievements were striking out Ted Williams in an exhibition and, in golf, playing 19 years on the LPGA tour. 

I first heard of Joyce sometime in the 1970s, when she appeared on ABC's The Superstars. Athletes from different sports would compete in activities such as running and swimming races, bowling, tennis, weightlifting, and an obstacle course, to determine the overall best athlete.

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