OU softball takes wins over Hofstra, Baylor

WACO, Texas — Ella Parker started the day with a pair of homers against Hofstra (0-1) and freshman Sydney Barker did the same against No. 23/24 Baylor (4-3) as No. 3 Oklahoma tallied a Saturday sweep Feb. 15. The Sooners downed the Pride in five innings, 8-0, while defeating Baylor, 9-1, in the same fashion.

Isabella Smith, Paytn Monticelli, Kierston Deal and Sam Landry combined to work 10 innings of one-run ball, as the OU defense committed only one error. The Sooner staff has a 1.25 ERA through eight games, while the gloves have permitted only two errors in 233 chances.

OU 8, Hofstra 0 (5 inn.)

OU scored early and often, tallying two runs in each of the first three innings. After Abigale Dayton started the game with a walk, Parker homered to left center to make it 2-0.

The Sooners used two singles and a walk to take a 4-0 lead in the second. With one away, Gabbie Garcia roped a single up the middle and moved to second on a wild pitch. After Dayton walked, Parker scored Garcia on a single. With runners at the corners, Parker baited a throw to allow Dayton to score from third.

Another two runs came across thanks to a pair of hits and a walk in the third. Nelly McEnroe-Marinas walked and Ailana Agbayani laced a double down the left field line, scoring McEnroe-Marinas. Sydney Barker followed with a triple off the wall, scoring Agbayani.

OU 9, Baylor 1 (5 inn.)

A pair of two-run home runs vaulted OU in front, 4-0, after three innings. Barker hooked an inside pitch off the foul pole for a two-run home run in the second, while Cydney Sanders launched another two-run shot to left center in the third.

Deal held Baylor scoreless through four innings until the Bears got one back with a pair of doubles. Deal held a rally at bay, retiring three straight after that to keep things at 4-1.

OU generated some two-out magic to score five in the fifth and win by run-rule. Parker singled with one out and Sanders reached on a fielder’s choice. Kasidi Pickering and McEnroe-Marinas both worked full-count walks and Agbayani drew a hit by pitch, scoring Maya Bland who entered for Sanders on the bases. Up 2-0 in the count, Barker launched the grand slam to make it 9-1.

Baylor singled twice in the fifth, but Sam Landry closed the door after recording the final out.