OU Softball: No. 1 Oklahoma Sweeps Texas Tech
Alyssa Brito’s pair of home runs powered Oklahoma to a series sweep on Sunday.
The top-ranked Sooners finished off their last Big 12 series in Lubbock in style, powering past the Texas Tech Red Raiders 11-1 at Rocky Johnson Field.
OU’s series sweep kept the Sooners perfect in conference play at 6-0, while moving the team to 27-1 overall in 2024.
Final Box Score
OU Stats
Oklahoma got started early again with a pair of runs in the first inning.
Jayda Coleman’s leadoff single turned into the first run of the game when true freshman Ella Parker belted a single of her own back up the middle.
Then Parker’s speed took over.
OU coach Patty Gasso sent her in motion to steal second base, and as Texas Tech (21-8, 2-4 Big 12) catcher Kennedy Crites tried to throw Parker out, Crites sent the ball flying into the outfield.
Parker cooly moved 60 feet forward, arriving safely at third.
The extra base was crucial, allowing her to score on Cydney Sanders’ single.
Though it wasn’t a home run, the hit through the left side was Sanders’ 30th RBI of the season.
Oklahoma then had to endure an uneasy moment in the top of the second inning.
Riley Ludlam, starting at catcher again for Kinzie Hansen who hasn’t played since Friday, started the frame off with a walk.
She moved over to second when Rylie Boone hit into a fielder’s choice, turning the lineup over for Coleman.
Coleman almost hit a home run, as her ball died just short of the wall, causing Ludlam to slide back into second base.
The OU catcher popped up holding her right hand, prompting the trainer to meet with her.
Thankfully for the Sooners, Ludlam stayed in the game and was able to finish out the contest.
Tiare Jennings almost brought Ludlam home in the ensuing at-bat, but she also flew out to the warning track.
Texas Tech made life uncomfortable for OU starting pitcher Nicole May in the third inning.
May hit Aubrey Barnhart with one out, and then gave up back-to-back singles to load the bases.
Kailey Wyckoff’s hit then defected off May’s glove, allowing everyone to reach safely and cutting the lead down to 2-1, but Oklahoma easily threw out Arriana Villa at the plate as the Red Raiders got greedy.
May then got Demi Elder to ground out, escaping the treat.
Oklahoma saw plenty of fly balls get held up in the wind on Sunday, but Alyssa Brito finally broke through in the fifth.
She blasted a no-doubter with Parker already aboard, extending OU’s lead to 4-1.
Boone added another with an RBI-single in the sixth inning, and OU quickly put runners on the corners with two outs for Parker.
The freshman watched strike three, however, keeping the lead at 5-1.
Brito kept the momentum rolling, flashing her glove in the field by diving to deny Logan Halleman’s line drive, before smashing her second home run of the afternoon to put her team up 6-1.
Boone added to her nice day to continue the big seventh inning.
She snuck a ball past Texas Tech first baseman Dee McClarity and into right field, scoring a pair to close out her three-RBI day and ballooning the lead to 8-1.
Jennings then capped off the weekend with a monster three-run shot. Her three-RBI Sunday closed out a weekend where she drove in 12 total runs against the Red Raiders.
May’s afternoon ended after the sixth inning. She struck out six Texas Tech batters while allowing seven hits, one walk and hitting two batters.
Karlie Keeney closed out the win without incident in the seventh.
The Sooners return to action on Wednesday when OU hosts UT Arlington at Love’s Field.
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