When sophomore Shay Knighten steps to the plate for Oklahoma, everyone pays attention. They know something exciting is about to happen.
“It’s just staying relaxed," Knighten said. "We’re at the biggest stage in our careers and it’s easy to get caught up in the hype and it's easy to get caught up in what’s around you. So I think for me it’s just kind of trusting my mechanics, trusting myself and trusting the process that got us here.”
Throughout her career, she has always been someone the Sooners look to when they need some momentum. This postseason, Knighten has been dominant for the Sooners, coming up with big hit after big hit for her team.
Even with all these big moments, she follows the advice of Coach Patty Gasso and just relaxes and 'goes for it.'
"I said from the start, you've just got to go for it," Gasso said. "You've got to go for it when you're here, and that's our game plan going in."
Knighten has been the back bone of the Oklahoma offense all season, and on the biggest stage, she stepped up again. In the bottom of the second, with OU trailing 3-2, she hit an eventual game-winning three-run double.
“I feel numb," Knighten said. "I’m completely wiped out, but it was all worth it. We all had like 30 percent in our tank but we knew we were going to give 100 percent of that 30 (percent).”
Knighten was awarded the Most Outstanding Player of the 2017 Women's College World Series, and rightfully so. Knighten posted a .353 batting average with seven RBI's and a home run in the WCWS. She also had both eventual game-winning hits in the national championship series.
"I just wanted to do everything for my team, and to finish this way, it’s really cool,” Knighten said.
