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    OU Softball: No. 1 Oklahoma Hammers Texas Tech to Clinch Series

    The Sooners scored 12 runs before recording an out in the first inning, setting the tone for a dominant win in Lubbock.

    Oklahoma wasted no time dispatching of Texas Tech on Saturday.

    Punctuated by freshman outfielder Kasidi Pickering’s three-run home run, OU scored 12 runs before recording an out at Rocky Johnson Stadium in Lubbock.

    The first inning fireworks proved to be plenty as the Sooners dismantled Texas Tech 15-2 in five innings.

    Patty Gasso’s Sooners (26-1, 5-0 Big 12) picked up right where they left off in the seventh inning yesterday, where they scratched eight runs past the Red Raiders (21-7, 2-3).

    Final Box Score

    Final Box Score

    Jayda Coleman and Ella Parker opened the game with back-to-back singles, and Pickering’s walk loaded the bases for Cydney Sanders.

    Texas Tech mostly pitched around Sanders on Friday, but were forced to face the reigning National Player of the Week. Sanders came through for OU, dropping a soft single into shallow right field to open the scoring.

    Tiare Jennings added to the lead with a two-RBI double, one that tied her with Sooners great Sydney Romero atop Oklahoma’s all-time double list at 58.

    Consecutive walks drawn by Alyssa Brito and catcher Riley Ludlam pushed the lead to 4-0, and Avery Hodge’s single put OU on top 5-0.

    Rylie Boone singled, meaning the Sooners batted around before recording an out, forcing Texas Tech to replace starter Maddie Kuehl with reliever Mimi Blackledge.

    The pitching change didn’t alter the Red Raiders’ fortunes.

    Coleman walked and Parker’s single made the score 9-0, bringing Pickering back up.

    She smashed a home run, ending the parade around the bases to cap off OU’s 12-run inning as Sanders flew out after her and Brito grounded into a double play to end the top half of the first.

    Sophomore pitcher Kierston Deal, starting instead of senior Nicole May, then saw her 22-inning scoreless streak come to an end.

    Arriana Villa connected on Deal’s delivery to smoke a solo shot to right field, pulling one back for Texas Tech in the bottom of the first.

    Oklahoma’s bats cooled off considerably after the first inning. The Sooners combined to record just two hits in the second, third and fourth innings courtesy of singles from Boone and Jennings.

    Texas Tech got another in the bottom of the fourth.

    Deal surrendered a second home run of the day, another solo effort, to Red Raider catcher Kailey Wyckoff to lead off the frame.

    Texas Tech’s first out came in the next at-bat when Demi Elder flew out to the warning track, prompting Gasso to bring Karlie Keeney into the circle.

    Deal allowed three hits and fired one strikeout and hit a batter while issuing no walks in 3 1/3 innings of action through the Saturday drizzle in Lubbock.

    Oklahoma’s offensive lull was short-lived, and the Sooners struck again in the fifth.

    A leadoff single from Maya Bland was followed by Coleman drawing a walk, setting things up for Parker.

    The freshman delivered, scorching a double back through the left side to plate Bland.

    Hannah Coor then made it 14-2 for OU with a sacrifice fly to score Coleman.

    Jennings’ sacrifice fly to extend the advantage to 15-2 was the first time all weekend she didn’t reach base, though it was her third RBI of the afternoon.

    Boone also finished perfect at the plate, while Parker went 3-for-4 with a trio of RBIs and Ludlam reached three times on walks.

    Keeney retired Texas Tech in order in the fifth, closing out OU's 16th run-rule victory of the season. 

    The series finale between the Sooners and Red Raiders is slated to start at noon Sunday. 

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