OU Softball: No. 1 Oklahoma Rolls UT Arlington Behind Monster Second Inning
NORMAN — UT Arlington held off the Oklahoma avalanche for an inning.
The Mavericks took a 1-0 lead at Love’s Field on Wednesday in the first inning, but the Sooners responded with a vengeance.
Oklahoma sent 15 batters to the plate in the second inning, scoring 10 runs powered by a pair of Alynah Torres home runs. Eight of the 10 runs came with two outs, furthering UTA’s frustration.
OU won the game 12-1 in five innings, the Sooners’ 17th run-rule of the year.
"She has been waiting to have the offensive explosion that she’s used to before she came here," OU coach Patty Gasso said of Torres after the game. "And it’s hard when you have a new hitting coach and you’re learning new things and you’re trying to feel what feels right. I think she’s really peaking now. This is what she’s been waiting for. She is absolutely crushing the ball."
Gasso’s squad moved to 28-1 on the year with the win, and UT Arlington dropped to 10-17.
Final Box Score
OU Stats
Karlie Keeney started the midweek battle in the circle for OU, and she fell victim to small ball in the first inning.
Back-to-back singles had two runners aboard, prompting Marley Neises to lay down a bunt.
Oklahoma overthrew Cydney Sanders at first, not only allowing Neises to reach safely but the Mavericks put a run across.
The Sooners rebounded with a pair of nice defensive plays.
Sanders caught a hard-hit line drive and turned an unassisted double play, then Tiare Jennings charged a slow-moving ground ball to get out of the inning.
The second inning then quickly turned explosive.
Alyssa Brito reached on an error, adding another runner for Torres’ home run into the bushes in dead center field.
"I’m just having fun with my teammates, honestly," Torres said. "I’m just keeping it really simple. I’m not... critiquing everything that I’m doing. Just having fun, seeing ball and hit ball."
Riley Boone followed the big fly up with a single before Riley Ludlam made the second out of the inning.
Jayda Coleman singled to score Boone, and the right fielder misjudged the ball, allowing Coleman to take an extra base. A throwing error then turned the play into a little league home run, as Coleman scored herself off the single and two errors.
Ella Parker, Tiare Jennings and Kasidi Pickering loaded the bases for Brito, who crushed a ball down the left field line for a grand slam in her second at-bat of the inning, putting OU up 8-1.
Sanders drew another walk, setting the table for Torres’ second homer of the frame, this one a no-doubter to left field to cap off the 10-run inning.
"We’re just having fun," Parker said of the second inning outburst. "... Passing the bat is what we’re going for but really just staying up in the dugout is what brought all that energy together.”
Pickering’s sacrifice fly scored Parker in the third inning, further adding to OU’s advantage.
Left-handed pitcher SJ Geurin took over for Keeney in the fourth inning with the game well in hand, strolling through the frame.
Keeney allowed four hits in three innings of action.
In the fourth inning, Parker aded another on a ground ball to second base, bringing Maya Bland home.
Paytn Monticelli closed the game without incident in the fifth inning.
The Sooners now prepare to host a weekend series against Baylor, with Friday’s contest being staged at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City before returning to Love’s Field on Saturday and Sunday.
"I’m excited," Torres said of returning to Hall of Fame Stadium. "The last time we were there, we were holding that trophy so that’s going to be a little nostalgic moment for me."
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