Sooners, Cowgirls clinch series wins

NORMAN – Four Sooners recorded multi-hit games as the No. 2-ranked Oklahoma softball team run-ruled Houston 10-2 in five innings on Saturday evening at Love’s Field, clinching a series win.

Kinzie Hansen, Alyssa Brito, Kasidi Pickering and Rylie Boone each recorded two-hit nights as Oklahoma (41-4, 17-3 Big 12) posted crooked numbers in the first and third innings to down Houston (23-22, 3-17 Big 12). OU’s win keeps it a full game ahead of Texas as the Big 12 leader entering Sunday and marked its 25th run-rule victory of the season.

Senior right-hander Nicole May struck out four over 4.1 innings of three-hit ball to earn her 12th win of the spring. The lone blemish on her line came on a two-run home run in the fourth. May retired each of the first nine she faced and left in the fifth having allowed just four baserunners total on the evening.

OU jumped on Houston early with a four-spot in the first as each of the first eight batters reached base safely. Ella Parker (1-for-3, BB, R, RBI) and Tiare Jennings (1-for-3, R, RBI) opened the frame with back-to-back singles and executed a double-steal before Alyssa Brito (2-for-3, BB, R, 3B) drew a free pass. Alynah Torres (0-for-3, R) reached on a fielder’s choice, then Kinzie Hansen (2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI) singled in a pair. Kasidi Pickering (2-for-2, R, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI) doubled home Torres and Avery Hodge (1-for-2, BB, R) drew a walk to bring Riley Ludlam to the plate with the bases full. Ludlam bounced a grounder to third that drew a throw home, but Houston’s catcher mishandled the ball, allowing Hansen to slide home safely.

Friday night, senior second baseman Alynah Torres homered and drove in four as No. 2-ranked Oklahoma Softball run-ruled Houston 8-0 in six innings on Friday evening at Love’s Field to become the first NCAA team to reach 40 wins in 2024.

The Sooners (40-4, 16-3 Big 12) recorded their 20th shutout and 24th run-rule win with the blanking of Houston (23-21, 3-16 Big 12). OU remains a full game ahead of Texas in the conference standings entering Saturday.

Senior shortstop Tiare Jennings moved into fourth in program history with her 293rd career hit, going 2-for-3 on the night with a run scored. She now shares fourth place with Houston head coach and former OU standout Kristin Vesely and needs 27 hits to reach Sydney Romero for third.

Graduate catcher Kinzie Hansen led the Sooners with three hits, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Jennings, Torres (2-for-2, 2 R, HR, 4 RBI), Jayda Coleman (2-for-4, BB, R, RBI) and Riley Ludlam (2-for-3) each added multi-hit efforts in the win.

Kelly Maxwell struck out five across 5.0 scoreless innings of work, improving to 14-1 on the year. She scattered three walks while limiting the Cougars to two hits, both singles. The left-hander’s fourth strikeout of the evening marked her 100th of the season, giving her four straight campaigns with at least 100 punchouts.

Cowgirls take 2-0 edge in Tech series

STILLWATER – Karli Godwin slugged a pair of home runs and Ivy Rosenberry hurled a shutout as the No. 6 Oklahoma State softball team took down Texas Tech 13-0 in five innings Saturday afternoon at Cowgirl Stadium.

The win improves the Cowgirls to 38-8 on the year (15-5 in the Big 12). The loss drops the Red Raiders to 26-15 overall (6-11 in the Big 12). Oklahoma State will go for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.

Godwin sprung the Cowgirl offense with a three-run home run in the first. The home run was her 11th on the year to set an OSU freshman record.

In the second, Lexi McDonald singled home a run, Tallen Edwards brought home a run on a fielder’s choice and Megan Bloodworth stole home to push the lead to 6-0.

Godwin added her second home run of the day on a two-run blast to push the game to run-rule territory.

Bloodworth brought home a run on a groundout to push the lead to 9-0 in the third inning.

In the fourth, Haidyn Sokoloski added a two-run single, Logan Pickelsimer scored on a wild pitch and Macy Graf brought home the 13th run of the day on a fielder’s choice.

The 13 runs scored today tied a season high for the Cowgirls, the other coming back on March 1 against Drake.

Offensively, OSU was led by Godwin (2-for-2 with five RBIs), Edwards (1-for-2 with an RBI) and Sokoloski (1-for-1 with two RBIs).

In the Circle, Rosenberry improved to 12-3 on the year going five innings and striking out eight. Maddy Wright took the loss dropping to 9-7 on the season.

Friday the Cowgirls used home runs from Karli Godwin, Claire Timm and Megan Bloodworth helped propel the Cowgirls to a 11-3 six-inning victory over Tech.

In the third, Texas Tech jumped out to a 3-0 lead on an RBI single from Kailey Wyckoff and a two-run double from Arriana Villa.

The Cowgirls responded with four runs in the fourth to take the lead on an RBI single from Caroline Wang, and a three-run home run from Claire Timm.

A pair of solo home runs from Megan Bloodworth and Karli Godwin pushed the lead to 6-3 in fifth. Godwin’s 10th home run of the year tied an OSU freshman record.

Offensively, OSU was led by Timm (2-for-4 with three RBIs), Wang (2-for-4 with two RBIs) and McDonald (2-for-3).

In the circle, Lexi Kilfoyl improved to 17-3 going six innings and striking out three. Mimi Blackledge dropped to 0-2 on the season.