Sprinklers interrupt – A sudden burst from Devon Park’s right-field sprinkler system briefly halted play during UCLA vs. Texas Tech in the Women’s College World Series elimination round. The delay was short, and the game still stretched into extra innings after a seventh-inning two-
For a few minutes, the Women’s College World Series elimination game didn’t sound like softball.
Sprinklers at Devon Park in Oklahoma City turned on in right field as Texas Tech pitcher Kaitlyn Terry faced her first batter of the inning. pausing play unexpectedly. The grounds crew moved quickly to shut the water off. and in the middle of the delay the stadium music operator started playing Rihanna’s “Umbrella. ” adding a brief moment of levity amid high stakes.
Play resumed just minutes later, with Terry allowed time for additional warm-up pitches.
The stoppage didn’t change the bigger story of the matchup. UCLA and Texas Tech were locked into an elimination-round battle that ultimately went to extra innings only after Jordan Woolery launched a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to extend the game.
Devon Park has also hosted other unplanned disruptions during this WCWS stretch. During the winners’ bracket game between Texas and Texas Tech on May 30, an ABC broadcast went out and returned after some time with “limited coverage.”
By the time the action settled back into normal cadence, it was clear the teams weren’t the only things battling pressure at Devon Park—so was the arena itself, with the water and the broadcast already having their turn.
Who knows what comes next as the WCWS continues toward a national champion.
UCLA vs Texas Tech WCWS Devon Park Kaitlyn Terry Jordan Woolery elimination game Oklahoma City softball playoffs
Softball really said “surprise sprinkler system.”
Wait so the sprinkler turned on during the elimination game and they just… played through it? I’m not even mad, but that Umbrella song timing is wild. Oklahoma weather/tech stuff is always chaotic.
I guess that’s why they play in Oklahoma—everything gets turned on at once. Also I swear it said “Umbrella” like the pitcher was getting roasted by a weather app lol. Do they not have better control of the field? Seems like it would ruin the slickness or something.
This is why I hate elimination games… and then you add sprinkler delay plus broadcast outage and it’s like the stadium is also in the bracket. They say it was short but still, right when Texas Tech’s pitcher is about to face the first batter of the inning? Kinda feels like an unfair momentum thing, even if they let warm-up pitches or whatever. Also Woolery hit a homer so maybe it didn’t matter, but I’d be annoyed if my inning got interrupted for Rihanna.