Oklahoma’s run of four straight Women’s College World Series titles ended when Lauren Allred’s walk-off sacrifice fly gave Texas Tech a 3-2 victory in the semifinals on Monday night.

Coach Patty Gasso’s Sooners (52-9) were down to their last strike in the top of the seventh inning when Abigale Dayton summoned a bit of magic, hitting a tying two-run homer against Red Raiders ace NiJaree Canady. It was just her third longball of the season.

But the Red Raiders (53-12) responded quickly in the bottom half. Mihyia Davis singled with one out and Hailey Toney followed with a double. Allred hit a flyball to right field and Sydney Barker’s throw to the plate was wide, allowing Davis to score easily.

Texas Tech, in its first trip to the WCWS, will play Texas in the best-of-three championship series starting Wednesday.

Texas defeated Tennessee 2-0 in the earlier semifinal.

Horse racing

Journalism opens as the Belmont favorite >> Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness winner Journalism opened as the 8-5 favorite in the Belmont Stakes when post positions were drawn for the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Derby winner Sovereignty was set as the second choice on the morning line at odds of 2-1 and drew the No. 2 post. Journalism, near the outside with the No. 7 post, is the only horse running in all three Triple Crown races.

No. 6 Baeza, who finished third in Kentucky, opened at 4-1. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s Rodriguez, who was scratched from the Derby because of a minor foot bruise and held out of the Preakness, was next at 6-1 and will leave the starting gate from the No. 3 post.

The field of eight horses also includes No. 8 Heart of Honor, tied for the longest shot on the board at 30-1 after finishing fifth in the Preakness. New to the Triple Crown trail are No. 1 Hill Road (10-1), No. 5 Crudo (15-1) and No. 4 Uncaged (30-1).

College baseball

Oregon State tops USC to win Corvallis Regional >> Gavin Turley and Trent Caraway had two of Oregon State’s four home runs and the Beavers captured the Corvallis Regional with a 9-0 win over USC.

After dropping their regional opener to Saint Mary’s on Friday, the Beavers won four straight, outscoring opponents 47-6, including a 14-1 win over the Trojans on Sunday night. Now eighth-seeded Oregon State (45-13-1) plays host to ninth-seeded Florida State in a super regional next weekend.

MMA

Former UFC fighters file lawsuits >> Two former UFC fighters have filed antitrust lawsuits against the mixed-martial arts behemoth, alleging it operates as a monopoly that restricts their ability to maximize earnings.

Phil Davis and Mikhail Cirkunovs, who fought under the name Misha Cirkunov, filed their lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Nevada against the Las Vegas-based UFC. Cirkunovs’ complaint was filed on May 23, and Davis’ was filed six days later.

Cirkunovs is seeking $75,000 in damages. Davis didn’t specify how much money he is suing for.

MLB

Royals call up top prospect Caglianone >> The Kansas City Royals have called up top prospect Jac Caglianone in the hopes of jump-starting their languishing offense, and the slugging first baseman and outfielder is expected to make his major league debut in St. Louis.

The Royals announced the move during their day off Monday, optioning outfielder Dairon Blanco to Triple-A Omaha.

Caglianone’s promotion comes amid a season in which the Royals have struggled to score runs. They’ve hit a big league-worst 34 homers and have scored 194 runs in all, tied with Pittsburgh ahead of only lowly Colorado heading into Monday night’s games.

NFL

Detroit Lions center Ragnow retires >> Detroit center Frank Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who was key to coach Dan Campbell’s Lions revival, announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday after seven seasons.

Ragnow, 29, posted to social media that he has tried to convince himself he’s feeling well enough to play, “but I’m not,” he said.

Ragnow battled through multiple injuries throughout his career. In 2021, following a season in which he played with a fractured throat, general manager Brad Holmes and Campbell made him the league’s highest paid center at the time with a $54 million, four-year extension.

Barkley announced as Madden cover athlete >> Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley was announced as EA Sports’ cover athlete for the Madden NFL 26 game.

Barkley’s sensational backward hurdle over a defender from Week 9 of last year’s Super Bowl-winning season is depicted on the standard cover. The deluxe edition features a tight shot of Barkley in his game-day gear.

Barkley last season set an NFL single-season rushing record, postseason included, topping the mark of 2,476 yards set by Terrell Davis. He ended perhaps the greatest debut season of any free agent in Philadelphia sports history with 2,504 yards rushing and 18 rushing touchdowns.

College football

Heisman winners Ingram, Newton, Griffin among players on Hall of Fame ballot >> Heisman Trophy winners Mark Ingram, Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III and former AP National Player of the Year Ndamukong Suh are on the ballot for the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame class.

The National Football Foundation released the ballot Monday for the class that will be announced in January. It includes 79 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 100 players and 35 coaches from lower levels.

Among other players on the ballot are Iowa’s Brad Banks, Colorado’s Eric Bieniemy, Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant, Penn State’s Ki-Jana Carter, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald, Syracuse’s Marvin Harrison, Oklahoma’s Josh Heupel, Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis, Washington State’s Ryan Leaf, California’s Marshawn Lynch, Illinois’ Simeon Rice and Florida State’s Peter Warrick.

NHL

Lightning sign Gourde to a 6-year contract >> The Tampa Bay Lightning are keeping Yanni Gourde around for the long term, signing the two-time Stanley Cup champion to a six-year contract worth just under $14 million.

The Lightning reacquired the 33-year-old center ahead of the trade deadline in March.

Gourde helped Tampa Bay win back-to-back titles in 2020 and ‘21, also after joining at the deadline. The Kraken took him in the expansion draft prior to their inaugural season.