By Lincoln Shryack

The defending champions finally faltered and the No. 2-ranked team was swept on the road. You could say it was an eventful weekend in NCAA softball. Here are the highlights.

Oklahoma’s 30-game win streak snapped by Oregon

The mighty Sooners arrived in Eugene, Oregon, on Thursday for their much-anticipated tilt against Oregon, having won 30 straight games, most of them in dominant fashion. Ducks’ starter Megan Kleist proceeded to stifle Oklahoma’s usually loud bats by allowing just one hit as No. 4 Oregon beat the two-time defending champs 5-0 to hand top-ranked OU its first loss since February 24.

Oregon got a two-run blast from DJ Sanders in the first and a Mary Iakopo solo shot in the third build an early 3-0 lead. Sanders added an RBI single in the fourth to give her three for the contest.

#3 UCLA sweeps #2 Washington

The Bruins took a huge step toward a regular-season Pac-12 title over the weekend in their stunning sweep of top-ranked Washington. UCLA’s pitching shut down the Huskies for much of the three-game set, allowing just two runs in the series. UCLA’s trio of Rachel Garcia, Holly Azevedo, and Selina Ta’amilo combined to strike out 25 Washington batters.

Garcia was all business this weekend:

Line out and strikeout. Crisis averted. 1-0 Bruins, B6. Briana Perez, Jordan and Garcia coming up. pic.twitter.com/J47ljRDffn

— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) April 22, 2018

Of course, what’s a high-profile series without a walk-off win, as Madeline Jelenicki smashed a two-out game-winner over the left field wall on Saturday against Huskies starter Gabbie Plain.

WALKING ... IT ... OFF!!!! 3-2 Bruins over Washington #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/swG9wyQeCh

— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) April 21, 2018

Arizona wins the in-state series showdown against Arizona State

The Wildcats went into Tempe, Arizona, and took two out of three against eighth-ranked ASU, a fantastic result for a team trying to stay afloat in the competitive Pac-12. The series win for Arizona was its first on the road this season in conference play, all punctuated by a dramatic, extra-inning win in the finale.

Jessie Harper hit the go-ahead two-run single in the top of the eighth on Sunday to shut the door on Arizona State.

Jessie Harper ROPES a two-run double over center field. @ArizonaSoftball takes the lead in extras ?⬇️

Watch: https://t.co/ZhZuI5ezsa pic.twitter.com/th8l5G1jgY

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) April 23, 2018

Mercer’s Meghan Rud highlights the catches of the week

I’m not sure what’s better, the catch or the reaction from Rud. Both made me smile.

DO YOU LIKE THAT!! Rud with the #SCTop10 play of the GAME!#NCAATop10 pic.twitter.com/PhSKhirskZ

— Mercer Softball (@MercerUSoftball) April 21, 2018

Chelsea Alexander is a freakin’ net in left field for Oklahoma State:

B3 | Chelsea must've seen what Maddi did last week and figured she'd get in on the #SCTop10 action herself! ?

WHAT. A. CATCH. pic.twitter.com/2tNImcI0Rr

— Cowgirl Softball (@CowgirlSB) April 20, 2018

E5 | CHELSEA ALEXANDER WANTS TO BE ON @SportsCenter AGAIN!!!

WHAT A GRAB TO LEAVE 'EM LOADED!!!! #okstate #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/pbMUzcql3T

— Cowgirl Softball (@CowgirlSB) April 22, 2018

Teamwork makes the dream work:

I'm sure this went just how @KaitlynVSlack & @KaitlynBreann25 drew it up! Way to back everything up K-Wash! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/t1YnD2GB7v

— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) April 22, 2018

Meghan Beaubien throws her third no-hitter of 2018 as Michigan sweeps Maryland

Super frosh Meghan Beaubien has emerged as a star in her first season in Ann Arbor, MI, and on Sunday she spun her third no-hitter of the season to lead the Wolverines to their 14th straight victory. The win was Beaubien’s NCAA-leading 27th of the season.

Meghan Beaubien on ? for @umichsoftball tossing her third no-hitter of the season. Highlights ? pic.twitter.com/o0ygqf0jNT

— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) April 23, 2018

Michigan holds a one-game lead over Indiana in the Big Ten race, and the two squads will match up this upcoming weekend in a highly anticipated series in Bloomington, Indiana. Speaking of Indiana…

Indiana’s Tara Trainer no-hits Penn State to cap off the sweep

Tara Trainer tossed a no-hitter for @IndianaSB, highlights ? pic.twitter.com/seP0Vq8axZ

— Indiana On BTN (@IndianaOnBTN) April 23, 2018

In a game that lasted just over an hour, Hoosiers’ starter Tara Trainer struck out six in Indiana’s 8-0 run-rule victory against the Nittany Lions on Sunday. It was Trainer’s second career no-no.

This weekend’s series against Michigan should be a whole lot of fun.