OU Softball: Alex Storako Powers Oklahoma Past Texas Tech
NORMAN — Oklahoma navigated a unique challenge to open its series against Texas Tech with a win.
Red Raiders coach Craig Snider tried to keep the OU lineup on its toes by making a pitching change every inning, denying the Sooners the opportunity to make offensive adjustments.
“I thought Texas Tech had a good game plan and kept us a little off balance,” OU coach Patty Gasso said. “… I think we were so caught up in (the pitching changes) that we were not really realizing that these are pitches that we can hit hard and a lot of these pitchers somewhat look similar.”
The strategy worked decently well, but Snider was unable to construct a game plan to combat Oklahoma right-hander Alex Storako, who shut down the Texas Tech offense to power the Sooners to a 3-0 win at Marita Hynes Field on Thursday.
Storako struck out three Red Raiders in seven shutout innings, moving OU to 34-1 on the year and dropping Texas Tech to 28-13.
Haley Lee feasted on the first pitcher the Sooners saw.
Texas Tech right-hander Maddie Kuehl struggled with her control to start the contest in Norman.
Lee got way ahead in the count, taking three straight balls, but OU coach Patty Gasso had complete trust in her transfer slugger.
Gasso gave Lee the green light at 3-0, and Lee fouled one off.
Kuehl wasn’t so lucky on Lee’s second swing.
Lee smoked the 3-1 pitch, lifting the ball clear over the bleachers in left field to put the Sooners up 1-0.
After Lee’s opening home run, the OU bats went quiet.
The Sooners were retired in order in the second and third innings as the offense adjusted to the revolving door of pitchers.
“It seemed like there was a lot of talk about it,” Gasso said. “A lot of, ‘who is it now? What’s their name? What’s their number?’ A lot of that. And really a lot of them looked very similar at times. So it’s the ability to get to the plate and just be athletic.
“… We were falling into traps. We were settling for average pitches that we really couldn’t hit as hard as we needed to. So it’s good for us… I mean if I am another team I’m looking to find a way to beat the Sooners. And I’m going to try whatever I can.”
Oklahoma did more damage in the fourth inning.
Grace Lyons reached on a fielder’s choice and Jocelyn Erickson drew a walk to put a pair on for Alyssa Brito.
Brito took two balls from Kendall Fritz, Texas Tech’s fourth pitcher of the day, before connecting and doubling off the wall in right field.
Lyons and Erickson had plenty of time to round the bases, and Brito’s pair of RBIs put the Sooners up 3-0.
As the game wore on, Oklahoma’s offense started to bring a better plate approach in each at-bat, Lee said.
“I think… a lot of us took it as kind of a mental thing,” she said. “It’s difficult going from one pitcher to the next, but as (Gasso) said, they’re gonna throw strikes and we’ve just got to be aggressive at those pitches and take advantage of the strikes that we do get rather than falling into the traps.”
Avery Hodge then chipped in with a nice play in right field for OU to help Storako keep the base paths clear.
The true freshman tracked down a hard-hit ball that appeared destined to roll to the wall in right-center field, diving instead to make Alanna Barraza the second out of the inning.
In the ensuing at-bat, Kennedy Crites dropped a ball into shallow left field, which could have potentially scored Barraza for the Red Raiders had she been on base.
Instead, Storako was unbothered with Rawls on first, popping up Riley Love to end the inning and keep Texas Tech off the board.
“Avery Hodge stealing that double was a big momentum changer,” Gasso said. “I put her out in right field but she’s a shortstop/middle infielder. And that’s why I keep recruiting shortstops.
“… I know they can usually move well and they have a good arm.”
Lee had another chance to ad tot he lead in the bottom of the fifth.
She stepped in with Rylie Boone on third and Tiare Jennings and just one out, battling former Sooner pitcher Olivia Raines.
Jennings got a bad jump off first base and was thrown out trying to steal second to record the second out of the inning, and then Lee bounced out to Texas Tech shortstop Abbie Orrick to end the threat.
Storako didn’t need any insurance runs, however, as she shut the door and powered the Sooners across the finish line.
Gasso is anxious to see if the Red Raiders try the same pitching strategy tomorrow, as it will provide her team a chance to respond to the unorthodox game plan.
“Here’s the good news,” Gasso said. “We’ve seen them all except one. So now we know. And we will look at more video and we will be better prepared.
“… Their plan and their pitchers coming in the way they did offset us a little bit. And I’m looking forward to seeing what they bring tomorrow because I’m looking forward to seeing how our team’s gonna respond.”
The series will resume on Friday, as the Sooners and the Red Raiders will again meet at 6 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Want to join the discussion? Click here to become a member of the AllSooners message board community today!
Sign up for your premium membership to AllSooners.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network!
Follow AllSooners on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest OU news.