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Oklahoma Steams Past Kentucky in Series Opener

The Sooners rolled the Wildcats on Thursday night at Love's Field.
Ryan Chapman|
Oklahoma freshman Kai Minor races home to score at Love's Field.
Oklahoma freshman Kai Minor races home to score at Love's Field. | NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

NORMAN — Oklahoma’s freshmen shredded Kentucky in Thursday’s series opener. 

Kai Minor drove in a trio of runs, and Kendall Wells hit a two-run shot and drew two walks in the Sooners’ demolition of the Wildcats. 

No. 3 OU rolled to a 10-2 win in five quick innings. 

The Sooners improved to 36-3 overall with the win and 9-1 in SEC play, while Kentucky fell to 22-17 overall and 1-12 in league action.

Final Box Score
Final Box Score | OU Stat

Though the night didn’t go their way, the Wildcats did get to Audrey Lowry early. 

Kentucky started the game with a pair of singles, then moved both runners into scoring position with a bunt. 

First baseman Karissa Hamilton was then able to direct a hit back up the middle to plate two runs, but Gabbie Garcia turned a double play to end the top of the first. 

From there, Oklahoma’s offense got to work. 

Minor, who was again called upon to lead things off for the Sooners, drew a walk to bring Wells to the plate. 

Minor didn’t have to wait long on first. 

Wells obliterated the first pitch she saw for her 28th home run of the season, a 275-foot shot to straightaway center. 

The long ball tied the game at 2-2 and moved the OU phenom within two homers of tying the NCAA record for a freshman. 

Three batters later, Kasidi Pickering clubbed her 15th home run of the year to left field to give Oklahoma the lead. 

"I loved our answer back," OU coach Patty Gasso said after the win. "Right away, we were down by two, came out and scored three. Thought Audrey threw well. This is a Kentucky team that's very aggressive at the plate, so they can find ways to hit the ball. they move well. They can find ways to get the ball through the middle and through our infield."

The Sooners added more in the second. 

Ailana Agbayani’s leadoff double was converted into a run after a two-out single from Minor. 

Wells and Ella Parker then drew walks to pass the bat to Garcia, and she nearly cleared the bases. 

She took two pitches before dialing in on Kentucky right-hander Abby Hammond. Her swing fell just short of a grand slam, as left fielder Alexa Riddel caught the ball on the warning track to end the threat. 

Oklahoma really put the pressure on in the third. 

The Sooners quickly loaded the bases with one out after Abby Dayton’s bunt single to roll the lineup back over for Minor. 

She delivered again to drive two more runs in with a single to put OU up 6-2.

Wells drew another walk, and as Parker was drawing a walk of her own, a wild pitch allowed Dayton to score. 

Garcia then plated two more with a two-RBI single to extend the lead to 9-2. 

"I loved the third inning. We were rallying with two outs and that's when we really started opening up the game," Gasso said.

Kentucky was able to hold the Sooners scoreless in the fourth, and Gasso sent Berkley Zache in for Lowry to start the fifth. 

Lowry retired five straight batters after allowing the trio of singles in the first, and she only surrendered two more hits in four innings of action. She struck out two and handed out no free passes. 

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Zache put two aboard with a walk and a single, but she was able to dig deep and strike Hamilton out to hold the Wildcats scoreless. She totaled two strikeouts in her one-inning cameo. 

Minor started the fifth out after she out-ran a throw from Kentucky shortstop Maddy Clark to first base. 

Wells then moved her to third with a single up the line, to bring Parker back up to bat. 

Parker narrowly missed a walk-off home run, instead doubling off the white paint on top of the wall to drive Minor in and clinch the victory. 

The Sooners and the Wildcats will return to action on Friday in a game that was moved up in the day due to the threat of inclement weather. 

First pitch for the second game of the series is now scheduled for 1 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+. 

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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is co-publisher at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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